50% import tariff on US motorcycles unacceptable

Washington: Ahead of his meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, US President Donald Trump has again criticised India's high import tariff on the iconic Harley Davidson motorcycles as "unacceptable", though he acknowledged that his "good friend" slashed the duty by half from 100 per cent.

Trump's comments came as he and Modi have agreed to meet on the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Osaka, Japan on June 28-29. Trump, who looks at every bilateral relationship from the prism of economy, has called India a "tariff king" and threatened to impose reciprocal tariffs on Indian products.

Trump, in an interview to CBS News on Monday, said the United States, under his leadership, is a country that can no longer be fooled. "We're not the foolish country that does so badly. You look at India, very good friend of mine, Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi, you take a look at what they've done, 100 per cent tax on a motorcycle.

We charge them nothing," Trump said. Trump was referring to the import tariff on the Harley Davidson motorcycles, an issue that has been close to his heart and wants India to reduce the duty to zero.