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A new book claims the US president rejected official tariff data and insisted India’s duties on American goods were at least 175%.
US President Donald Trump. (Reuters File)
United States President Donald Trump refused to accept his own administration’s data on Indian tariffs and lashed out at Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick for presenting figures that he believed vastly understated New Delhi’s duties on American goods, according to a new book.
Trump was convinced that India imposed tariffs of at least 175 per cent on US products, even though official figures compiled by the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) showed considerably lower rates, according to Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump.
The book, written by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, offers an account of the first 14 months of Trump’s second term and draws on extensive interviews and reporting from inside his administration.
According to the authors, the confrontation occurred as Trump and his advisers were preparing the sweeping tariffs that he would unveil as part of his “Liberation Day” trade offensive in April 2025.
“Nobody has f***ing given me any numbers. Hard facts of how much China tariffs us, how much India tariffs us. You give me bullshit numbers,” Trump is quoted as telling his officials.
Lutnick then presented the president with the tariff figures recorded by the USTR. Instead of accepting the data, Trump reportedly accused his administration of providing him with false information.
“No, these are bullshit numbers,” Trump said, according to the book, repeatedly dismissing the government’s data as “f***ing bullshit” despite Lutnick’s attempts to explain the figures.
Trump reportedly believed that India’s tariffs on American goods were at least 175 per cent and possibly even higher.
About the Author
Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follo…Read More
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