President Donald Trump has stated that if Tesla, led by Elon Musk, were to establish a factory in India to circumvent the country’s tariffs, it would be unfair to the United States.
Trump’s remarks came amidst his efforts to raise tariffs significantly. Just hours before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Trump at the White House on February 13, the US President announced plans for reciprocal tariffs.
In a recent interview with Fox News’ Sean Hannity, Trump asserted that during his meeting with Prime Minister Modi, he highlighted India’s imposition of the highest tariffs globally. He claimed it would be “impossible” for Musk to sell cars in India due to these tariffs. Trump expressed his view that while Musk building a factory in India could proceed, it would still be unfair to the US.
Tesla’s recent recruitment drive in India, advertising positions such as business operations analysts and customer support specialists in the Mumbai Suburban area, is seen as an indication of the company’s forthcoming entry into the Indian market.
During the interview, Trump also discussed his conversation with Modi regarding tariffs, advocating for a reciprocal approach where the US would mirror India’s tariff rates. Trump emphasised that he intended to apply this approach universally, despite Modi’s initial resistance. Musk, who was present during the interview, agreed that such an approach seemed equitable.
