'Tariffs' has become THE BUZZWORD of the year so far, with US President Donald Trump using it without hesitation since the onset of his second term and even before. 
India&rsquo;s reputation as the world&rsquo;s &ldquo;tariff king&rdquo; isn&rsquo;t going away anytime soon. With duties like 50% on apples, corn, and motorcycles, and 100% on coffee, raisins, and walnuts, it&rsquo;s no wonder the US President gave India an honourable mention in&nbsp;so many of his speeches about tariffs. But behind these steep import taxes lies a bigger story: One of protection, politics, and a push for self-reliance.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/trump-reciprocal-tariffs-india-pm-modi-8919189" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Trump&rsquo;s reciprocal tariffs hit &lsquo;tariff king&rsquo; India: Could they cost PM Modi his next term?</a>
<h2>Not just taxes: It&rsquo;s a safety net</h2>
India&rsquo;s love for tariffs isn&rsquo;t just about blocking foreign goods; it&rsquo;s about shielding its own. For decades, the country has used high import duties to protect its local industries, especially agriculture and manufacturing, from being crushed by cheaper international competition.
Take dairy, for instance. With tariffs reaching up to 60%, Indian farmers get a fighting chance against big global dairy exporters. Companies like Amul argue that slashing duties would destroy livelihoods. The same logic applies to other farm goods like meat and processed foods. Drop the tariffs, and the market could be flooded with cut-price imports, leaving small-scale producers in the dust.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-first-to-fall-in-face-off-trump-tariffs-will-other-countries-follow-8926949" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Vietnam first to fall in face of Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow?</a>
<h2>Cash cow for the government</h2>
Tariffs also keep India&rsquo;s treasury full. In the 2026 financial year alone, the government expects to rake in ₹2,40,000 crore from customs duties. Lower tariffs might win a few friends abroad, but they&rsquo;d also punch a hole in public revenue, and that&rsquo;s a tough sell at home.
What&rsquo;s more, if India cuts tariffs for one country, trade rules often mean others get the same deal. That&rsquo;s a chain reaction the government isn&rsquo;t in a hurry to trigger.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/vietnam-first-to-fall-in-face-off-trump-tariffs-will-other-countries-follow-8926949" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">Vietnam first to fall in face of Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow?</a>
<h2>Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Self-reliance over global deals</h2>
Then there&rsquo;s Prime Minister Narendra Modi&rsquo;s flagship vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, or Self-Reliant India. Under this plan, tariffs are being used as a tool to boost local manufacturing, particularly in sectors like electronics and solar energy.
For Indian businesses, this strategy is a win. Fewer global players at the table means less competition. It&rsquo;s a protectionist playbook, yes, but one that aligns with both political messaging and economic goals.
<h2>So, why won&rsquo;t India budge?</h2>
To outsiders, India&rsquo;s high tariffs might seem like a barrier to free trade. But at home, they&rsquo;re seen as requirement for protecting jobs, feeding government revenue, and supporting an ambitious domestic agenda.
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/pentagon-donald-trump-us-weapon-production-reciprocal-tariffs-f-35-jet-nato-8927034" rel="dofollow noopener" target="_blank">'Pentagon will pay': Did Trump shoot US weapon production in foot with reciprocal tariffs? F-35, NATO partnerships&nbsp;at&nbsp;risk</a>

World: India’s love for tariffs isn’t just about blocking foreign goods; it’s about shielding its own.

'Tariffs' has become THE BUZZWORD of the year so far, with US President Donald Trump using it without hesitation since the onset of his second term and even before. India’s reputation as the world’s “tariff king” isn’t going away anytime soon. With duties like 50% on apples, corn, and motorcycles, and 100% on coffee, raisins, and walnuts, it’s no wonder the US President gave India an honourable mention in so many of his speeches about tariffs. But behind these steep import taxes lies a bigger story: One of protection, politics, and a push for self-reliance. Also read: Trump’s reciprocal tariffs hit ‘tariff king’ India: Could they cost PM Modi his next term? Not just taxes: It’s a safety net India’s love for tariffs isn’t just about blocking foreign goods; it’s about shielding its own. For decades, the country has used high import duties to protect its local industries, especially agriculture and manufacturing, from being crushed by cheaper international competition. Take dairy, for instance. With tariffs reaching up to 60%, Indian farmers get a fighting chance against big global dairy exporters. Companies like Amul argue that slashing duties would destroy livelihoods. The same logic applies to other farm goods like meat and processed foods. Drop the tariffs, and the market could be flooded with cut-price imports, leaving small-scale producers in the dust. Also read: Vietnam first to fall in face of Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow? Cash cow for the government Tariffs also keep India’s treasury full. In the 2026 financial year alone, the government expects to rake in ₹2,40,000 crore from customs duties. Lower tariffs might win a few friends abroad, but they’d also punch a hole in public revenue, and that’s a tough sell at home. What’s more, if India cuts tariffs for one country, trade rules often mean others get the same deal. That’s a chain reaction the government isn’t in a hurry to trigger. Also read: Vietnam first to fall in face of Trump tariffs. Will other countries follow? Aatmanirbhar Bharat: Self-reliance over global deals Then there’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship vision of Aatmanirbhar Bharat, or Self-Reliant India. Under this plan, tariffs are being used as a tool to boost local manufacturing, particularly in sectors like electronics and solar energy. For Indian businesses, this strategy is a win. Fewer global players at the table means less competition. It’s a protectionist playbook, yes, but one that aligns with both political messaging and economic goals. So, why won’t India budge? To outsiders, India’s high tariffs might seem like a barrier to free trade. But at home, they’re seen as requirement for protecting jobs, feeding government revenue, and supporting an ambitious domestic agenda. Also read: 'Pentagon will pay': Did Trump shoot US weapon production in foot with reciprocal tariffs? F-35, NATO partnerships at risk

'Not just taxes, it’s a safety net': Why India has sky-high tariffs?

The United States will seek rollback of Indian tariffs imposed on some agricultural products such as almonds when the two sides meet on Friday, a senior Indian government source told Reuters.

A delegation led by Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Christopher Wilson, will meet Indian officials to try to <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-us-begin-trade-talks-new-delhi-says-keep-bigger-picture-in-mind-235057">re-start negotiations on the tariffs</a>, which were a response to the US removing some trade privileges from Indian products.

US President Donald Trump has been putting pressure on India to do more to open its markets, saying this week on Twitter that its high tariffs were "unacceptable".

The United States would seek a rollback of some of those tariffs, and India would in return seek better access to the US market for Indian farm products, said the Indian official who is aware of the agenda for discussions. He declined to be named.

India was unlikely to immediately commit to any changes to foreign investment rules for foreign e-commerce firms such as Walmart's Flipkart and Amazon, the official said. The rules have forced the two American companies to rework their business strategies for India.

Walmart told the US government privately in January that <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/walmart-told-us-government-indias-e-commerce-rules-regressive-warned-of-trade-impact-235131">India's new investment rules for e-commerce were regressiv</a>e and had the potential to hurt trade ties, Reuters reported on Thursday.

The United States will seek rollback of Indian tariffs imposed on some agricultural products such as almonds when the two sides meet on Friday, a senior Indian government source told Reuters.

The United States will seek rollback of Indian tariffs imposed on some agricultural products such as almonds when the two sides meet on Friday, a senior Indian government source told Reuters. A delegation led by Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Christopher Wilson, will meet Indian officials to try to re-start negotiations on the tariffs, which were a response to the US removing some trade privileges from Indian products. US President Donald Trump has been putting pressure on India to do more to open its markets, saying this week on Twitter that its high tariffs were "unacceptable". The United States would seek a rollback of some of those tariffs, and India would in return seek better access to the US market for Indian farm products, said the Indian official who is aware of the agenda for discussions. He declined to be named. India was unlikely to immediately commit to any changes to foreign investment rules for foreign e-commerce firms such as Walmart's Flipkart and Amazon, the official said. The rules have forced the two American companies to rework their business strategies for India. Walmart told the US government privately in January that India's new investment rules for e-commerce were regressive and had the potential to hurt trade ties, Reuters reported on Thursday.

US to seek rollback of Indian tariffs during trade talk: Report

India is preparing to impose higher tariffs on <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/indias-indifference-to-the-us-on-gsp-is-the-perfect-response-225283">some US goods</a> including almonds, walnuts and apples next week after a delay of about a year, two sources said, following Washington's withdrawal of key trade privileges for New Delhi.

From June 5, US President Donald Trump scrapped trade privileges under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for India, the biggest beneficiary of a scheme that allowed duty-free exports of up to $5.6 billion from the country.

India is now looking at adopting the higher tariffs, the sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, although the US has warned that any retaliatory tariffs by India would not be "appropriate" under WTO rules.

"What India is doing is legal and the tariffs on US goods will only lead to an impact of around $220 million," one of the sources said, declining to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter.

India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry did not respond to an email from Reuters to seek comments.

India initially issued an order in June last year to raise import taxes as high as 120% on a slew of US items, incensed by Washington's refusal to exempt New Delhi from higher steel and aluminium tariffs.

But New Delhi repeatedly delayed <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/unfortunate-washington-didnt-accept-offer-on-gsp-resolution-says-india-223358">raising tariffs</a> as the two nations engaged in trade talks. Trade between them stood at about $142.1 billion in 2018.

India is by far the largest buyer of US almonds, paying $543 million for more than half of US almond exports in 2018, US Department of Agriculture data shows. It is the second largest buyer of US apples, taking $156 million worth in 2018.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is expected to visit India this month, said this week the United States was open to dialogue to resolve trade differences with India, through greater access for American companies to its markets.

Dates for Pompeo's visit have not been officially announced but media said it could be ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first meeting with Trump in more than two years, on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan, on June 28 and 29.

Trump has repeatedly called out India for its high tariffs, even though the two countries have developed close political and security ties.

New Delhi's new rules in areas such as e-commerce and data localisation have angered the United States and hit companies such as Amazon.com, Walmart Inc, Mastercard and Visa, among others.

Previously, India has called the withdrawal of GSP benefits "unfortunate", and vowed to "always uphold its national interest in these matters".

India is preparing to impose higher tariffs on some US goods including almonds, walnuts and apples next week after a delay of about a year, two sources said, following Washington's withdrawal of key trade privileges for New Delhi.

India is preparing to impose higher tariffs on some US goods including almonds, walnuts and apples next week after a delay of about a year, two sources said, following Washington's withdrawal of key trade privileges for New Delhi. From June 5, US President Donald Trump scrapped trade privileges under the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for India, the biggest beneficiary of a scheme that allowed duty-free exports of up to $5.6 billion from the country. India is now looking at adopting the higher tariffs, the sources with direct knowledge of the matter said, although the US has warned that any retaliatory tariffs by India would not be "appropriate" under WTO rules. "What India is doing is legal and the tariffs on US goods will only lead to an impact of around $220 million," one of the sources said, declining to be identified because of the sensitivity of the matter. India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry did not respond to an email from Reuters to seek comments. India initially issued an order in June last year to raise import taxes as high as 120% on a slew of US items, incensed by Washington's refusal to exempt New Delhi from higher steel and aluminium tariffs. But New Delhi repeatedly delayed raising tariffs as the two nations engaged in trade talks. Trade between them stood at about $142.1 billion in 2018. India is by far the largest buyer of US almonds, paying $543 million for more than half of US almond exports in 2018, US Department of Agriculture data shows. It is the second largest buyer of US apples, taking $156 million worth in 2018. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, who is expected to visit India this month, said this week the United States was open to dialogue to resolve trade differences with India, through greater access for American companies to its markets. Dates for Pompeo's visit have not been officially announced but media said it could be ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first meeting with Trump in more than two years, on the sidelines of a G20 summit in Japan, on June 28 and 29. Trump has repeatedly called out India for its high tariffs, even though the two countries have developed close political and security ties. New Delhi's new rules in areas such as e-commerce and data localisation have angered the United States and hit companies such as Amazon.com, Walmart Inc, Mastercard and Visa, among others. Previously, India has called the withdrawal of GSP benefits "unfortunate", and vowed to "always uphold its national interest in these matters".

India set to levy higher tariffs on some US goods next week: Sources

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'Not just taxes, it’s a safety net': Why India has sky-high tariffs?

US to seek rollback of Indian tariffs during trade talk: Report

India set to levy higher tariffs on some US goods next week: Sources