India and the US have held several rounds of negotiations for a trade deal over the past few months, with Delhi even reducing tariffs on goods like Bourbon whiskey and motorcycles to placate the US. But the US runs a $45bn (£33bn) trade deficit with India, which Trump is keen to reduce.

President Donald Trump says the United States and India are still negotiating on trade despite new tariffs slated to begin in a few days.

As the workday wound down in New Delhi on Wednesday, most Indian trade officials were getting ready to head home. Then their phones lit up: Donald Trump hit the nation with a 25% tariff.