US–India Trade 2025: Is India Really Fleecing the US? The Data Says No

The article discusses President Donald Trump's imposition of tariffs on Indian goods, which he claims is due to India "fleecing" America However, data from 2024–25 shows that the US-India trade relationship is balanced, with both nations benefiting almost equally.

Despite India having a $41 billion goods surplus, the US earns more from services, education, royalties, and corporate operations, totaling $199 billion against India’s $196 billion in trade benefits

Trump's tariffs include a 25% levy on select Indian goods and an additional 25% on imports linked to India’s Russian oil purchases, effectively doubling the tariff burden on Indian exports

The article highlights the importance of India to the US economy, pointing out that Indian students contribute $13 billion annually and that Indian IT and pharmaceutical sectors are crucial to American companies

Major US tech companies like Google, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta have invested heavily in India's digital infrastructure, underscoring the mutual economic benefits of the partnership

The Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit in Tianjin showed potential for India to align more closely with China and Russia, which could be a strategic loss for the US if relations with India deteriorate further

The article criticizes Trump’s tariff approach for potentially driving India toward stronger ties with Beijing and Moscow, which could undermine American strategic interests

The author argues that rather than a one-sided trade relationship, the US-India partnership should be viewed as one of interdependence, with both countries gaining from their economic ties

The piece concludes by emphasizing the need for trust, parity, and a shared vision in the US-India relationship, cautioning that outdated rhetoric about "fleecing" could harm both nations' interests