NRI PULSE STAFF REPORT
WASHINGTON, D.C., February 20, 2025- U.S. President Donald Trump said it would be “unfair” to the U.S. if Tesla were to set up a factory in India to circumvent the country’s high import tariffs, in an interview with Fox News that aired on Tuesday.
“Every country in the world takes advantage of us, and they do it with tariffs… It is impossible to sell a car, practically, in, as an example, India,” Trump said.
India’s government in March introduced a new policy lowering import taxes to 15% for automakers that invest at least $500 million and set up a manufacturing facility in the country.
Tesla has selected locations for two showrooms in New Delhi and Mumbai and has listed job openings in India. The company does not currently manufacture any vehicles in India.
“Now, if he built the factory in India, that’s okay, but that’s unfair to us. It’s very unfair,” Trump said in the interview.
India’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Trump has advocated for reciprocal tariffs, arguing that the U.S. should impose equivalent duties on nations that tax American goods.
Cover photo courtesy: The Royal Society/Wikimedia. Designed by NRI Pulse on Canva.
