India joins the trade war and imposes tariffs in the United States

NEW DELHI.-

India

joined the trade war against

United States

and decided to raise tariffs on 28 North American products, including almonds, apples and nuts, after Washington expelled New Delhi from a major trade privilege program.

The new taxes will come into effect tomorrow,
said that a government notification in the last trade dispute that took place since the inauguration of US President Donald Trump in 2017 had promised to act against the countries with which Washington had a deficit important commercial

As of June 5, Trump has removed the privileges of the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) for India, the main beneficiary of a program allowing it to export up to $ 5600 million. tax free in the United States.

India said the decision was "unfortunate" and promised to defend its national interests.

India was preparing to apply higher levies before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's first meeting with Trump at the G-20 summit in Japan on June 28-29.

The Indian government had originally ordered last June to increase by 120% taxes on imports of a series of US products, upset by Washington 's refusal to exempt the country from the US tax system. increased tariffs on steel. and aluminum.

But New Delhi has repeatedly delayed the increase in levies because both countries have started trade negotiations. The exchange between the two is high at about $ 142.1 billion in 2018.

India today amended the previous ordinance to "implement the imposition of customs duties in retaliation for 28 specific goods originating in or exported from the United States", all of which preserving the existing rate for the same goods from other countries, said the government.

It is estimated that higher taxes imposed by India on US badets could weigh on the growing political and security ties between the two countries.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, due to visit India this month, said this week that Washington is open to dialogue to resolve trade disputes with New Delhi, thanks to better access by US companies to their markets.

India is by far the biggest buyer of almonds in the United States and has paid $ 543 million for more than half of US dried fruit exports in 2018, according to data from the US Department of Agriculture. 39, United States Agriculture. It's the second largest apple buyer, with $ 156 million in 2018.

Reuters Agency