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New Delhi:
Donald Trump's 'reciprocal tariffs' post on Truth Social early Thursday (6:46 am EST, 5:16 pm IST) – just hours before his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Washington, D.C. – has reaffirmed, if confirmation was needed, that much, if not most, of their discussion will center around import duties, emphasizing the US President's ongoing tendency to weaponize trade tariffs.
In a brief message, marked by his usual self-praise, Trump wrote, "THREE GREAT WEEKS, PERHAPS THE BEST EVER, BUT TODAY IS THE BIG ONE: RECIPROCAL TARIFFS!!!"
"MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!!!"
The 'reciprocal tariffs' post mirrored a similar commitment from Wednesday, when he pledged to issue orders that could potentially ignite new fronts in an expanding trade war with other nations, including US allies.
Donald Trump announced he would hold a press conference on reciprocal tariffs at the White House at 1:00 pm local time (which translates to 11:30 pm IST).
The US President has maintained that his 'reciprocal tariffs' system – essentially an 'eye for an eye' approach to countries imposing import duties on American goods – is "the only fair way to trade."
The White House had confirmed on Wednesday that Trump’s 'reciprocal tariff' plan could be revealed before his meeting with PM Modi later today.
If this occurs, it will be seen, at least by the Trump administration, as a clear message to the world about the US stance on tariffs.
PM Modi In The US
Modi arrived in the United States earlier today for his first bilateral meeting since Trump’s second-term election victory in November; he did so following a hardline nationalist agenda that included promises to deport illegal immigrants and revitalize a lagging manufacturing sector.
Efforts on the immigration front included sending a military flight with 104 Indians who had entered the US illegally. The manner of their deportation – with the deportees shackled – sparked a controversy in India.