NEW DELHI: When US President Donald Trump held out a chart on reciprocal tariffs in White House’s Rose Garden, it clearly showed a 26% levy for all Indian goods.
By the time the executive order was issued, the number had changed to 27% in Annex, only to be corrected to 26% a day later. For most exporters or govt officials in India, a percentage point difference doesn’t alter things significantly, but the repeated changes did catch everyone’s attention.
India wasn’t alone. Among the 57 slapped with reciprocal tariffs, there were 17 other countries whose numbers were revised and in every case by one percentage point.
What prompted the change isn’t clear. Neither the White House nor other wings dealing with the issue offered an explanation. So, it isn’t clear where the goof up happened.
