After Sending Tariff Warnings to 14 Countries, Trump Signals Imminent Trade Deal with India

Trump Hints at Imminent Trade Deal with India, Slaps New Tariffs on 14 Countries

President Donald Trump on Monday said the United States is close to finalizing a trade agreement with India, even as his administration imposed a fresh wave of tariffs on imports from 14 countries, signaling a hardline trade strategy aimed at reducing the U.S. trade deficit and asserting American leverage.

“We are close to making a deal with India,” Trump said during a private dinner with Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu. “We’ve made a deal with the United Kingdom. We’ve made a deal with China.”

Although he did not disclose specifics of the India deal, Trump suggested that cooperative countries could expect flexibility, while those resisting U.S. terms would face punitive trade actions.

“Others we met with, and we don’t think we’re going to be able to make a deal, so we just send them a letter,” he added. “We’re sending out letters to various countries telling them how much tariffs they have to pay.”

Widening the Tariff Net
In a major trade move, the Trump administration imposed new tariffs effective August 1 on a range of countries across Asia, Africa, and Eastern Europe. According to official communication posted on Truth Social, the tariff rates are as follows:

25%: Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Tunisia

30%: South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina

32%: Indonesia

35%: Bangladesh, Serbia

36%: Cambodia, Thailand

40%: Myanmar, Laos

Trump emphasized that these countries had either failed to reach trade terms with the U.S. or were “not cooperating” on market access and tariff reductions.

India Navigates BRICS and Bilateral Ties
India’s name stands out in Trump’s comments — not only because it’s one of the few major economies not targeted by the new tariffs, but also due to its complex role in the BRICS alliance, which Trump has repeatedly criticized.

In a previous Truth Social post, Trump warned:

“Any country aligning themselves with the Anti-American policies of BRICS will be charged an ADDITIONAL 10% Tariff. There will be no exceptions to this policy.”

Yet despite India’s BRICS affiliation, Trump appears willing to offer bilateral trade space — likely due to India’s strategic importance in Indo-Pacific policy and its growing economic clout.

“Some will maybe adjust a little bit depending if they have a cause,” Trump said. “We’re not going to be unfair about it.”

Trade Politics Back at the Forefront
The announcement marks a return to Trump’s trademark trade-first foreign policy — combining bilateral deals with tariff pressure. While deals with the U.K. and China have been framed as complete, India now appears to be next in line for finalization.

As of now, the Indian government has not issued a formal statement regarding the proposed deal or the BRICS-related warning.