Washington DC: US President Donald Trump on Tuesday described tariffs as the “most beautiful” and his “favourite word in the dictionary,” even as Washington’s trade standoff with India deepens.
Speaking at the Marine Corps Base Quantico in Arizona before top military generals and officials, Trump claimed his tariff strategy was making the US “very rich.”
“Other countries were taking advantage of us for years and years. Now we’re treating them fairly,” Trump said.
India Among Most Tariffed Nations
Since August 2025, India has faced tariffs of 50% on its exports to the US — half of which, Trump said, is a “penalty” for New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil despite the Ukraine war.
He reiterated accusations made even at the UN General Assembly, where he called India and China the primary funders of Vladimir Putin’s war in Ukraine.
Legal Challenge Pending in Supreme Court
Trump also addressed the ongoing court battle over the tariffs. A lower court earlier ruled that only US Congress — not the President — could impose such duties, but deferred striking them down. The Trump administration has since appealed to the Supreme Court (SC).
“Tariffs are making us very rich,” Trump said. “This is what other nations have done to us.”
India-US Talks in Limbo
The steep tariffs have strained India-US trade negotiations, which restarted after a brief thaw in ties between Trump and PM Narendra Modi.
Washington insists India must end Russian oil imports and allow open access to its markets, particularly in farming and dairy goods. New Delhi has resisted, calling such demands red lines.
Talks, which began in April, were expected to conclude by September, but no breakthrough has been reached.
Trump Calls Tariffs “Most Beautiful Word,” Defends High Duties On India
