Trump Disputes Official Data on India Tariffs in Clash with Commerce Secretary
A new book by New York Times journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan reveals a heated dispute between US President Donald Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick over India's tariffs on American goods. Trump rejected official data from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), insisting India's tariffs were much higher—around 175%—than reported. Despite Lutnick's efforts to present verified figures, Trump dismissed them as inaccurate. This confrontation occurred amid rising trade tensions leading up to the US imposing a 25% tariff on India in April 2025.