50 countries including India plan to lower duties in response to Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, claims US Trade Rep

India and several other countries plan to lower tariffs on the United States after Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on April 2, US trade representative Jamieson Greer claimed.

Speaking at the Senate Finance Committee, Greer defended the national emergency on trade and mentioned that India's average tariff is nearly 39 per cent whereas the tariff on agriculture goods by the United States was 5 per cent.

“Our average tariff on agricultural goods is 5 per cent, but India’s average tariff is 39 per cent. You understand the trend here. Our trade deficit, driven by these non-reciprocal conditions, is a manifestation of the loss of the nation's ability to manufacture, to grow, and to build. The President recognises the urgency of the moment,” Greer said, in a YouTube video posted by AP.

Along with India, he said many countries, including Argentina, Vietnam, and Israel, had shown interest in lowering tariff and non-tariff barriers as Trump imposed reciprocal tariffs on trading partners. He claimed that almost 50 countries are willing to discuss the latest tariff policy.

‘50 countries have approached,’ says Greer

“Companies have announced $4 trillion into investments in the United States. Nearly 50 countries have approached me personally to discuss the President's new policy and explore how to achieve reciprocity. And they've spoken with many members of the administration," Greer said.

"Argentina, Vietnam, India, and Israel, have suggested that they will reduce their tariffs and non-tariff barriers in line with the President's policy,” he added.

The recent measures and proposals by nearly 50 countries, including India, came after Donald Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on trading partners on April 2. Trump proposed a minimum10 per cent duty on nearly all goods entering the United States and a comprehensive tariff policy for most countries to correct the ‘trade imbalance.’

One-sided tariff responsible for trade deficit

According to Greer, the steep rise in the US trade deficit and the decline of the manufacturing sector was due to “one-sided tariffs, trade barriers, and economic policies adopted by foreign partners”.

He claimed that such practices by trading partners have severely impacted American workers. From 1994 onwards, the country lost five million manufacturing jobs and 90,000 factories.

Even agriculture, where the US previously had a trade surplus, turned to a deficit during the last two years of Joe Biden's Presidency, Greer said.