New York, March 5: As he doubled down on his threats to impose reciprocal tariffs, President Donald Trump accused India of charging tariffs higher than 100 per cent on autos, even though India has slashed the highest rate to 70 per cent.

“India charges auto tariffs higher than 100 per cent,” he said in his address to a joint session of Congress on Tuesday, outlining his policies.

However, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced in her budget last month that the tariffs on luxury cars were being cut to 70 per cent from 125 per cent.

She also cut tariffs on high-end motorcycles from 50 per cent to 40 per cent.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is to visit Washington to discuss tariffs with US officials.

“Countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them,” Trump said, justifying his programme of raising tariffs.

The reciprocal tariffs would come into effect on April 2.

“Whatever they tariff us,” he declared, “we will tariff them.”

“China’s average tariff on our products is twice what we charge them, and South Korea’s average tariff is four times higher,” he said, also mentioning Brazil.

His speech came the day when his 25 per cent tariffs on imports from Canada and Mexico, and an additional 10 per cent came into effect.

Trump admitted that tariffs would cause “a little disturbance” and “there could be an adjustment period” but asserted that it would make the US richer.

That was meant to inoculate himself against criticism of the effects of the tariffs.

The stock markets have been down by more than three per cent in the last two days and retailers have warned of impending increase in prices of groceries.

Tariffs by India on imports from the US have been one of Trump’s favourite talking points. In the past, he has mentioned the Indian tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles and whiskey.

Cairo/Gaza, March 5: Arab leaders have approved an Egyptian reconstruction plan for Gaza, which is estimated to cost $53 billion and aims to avoid displacing Palestinians from the enclave.

The plan was accepted at the closing of the emergency Arab summit held on Tuesday in Cairo with full support from participating Arab leaders, Xinhua news agency reported.

The summit also agreed to form a non-factional technocratic committee to administer Gaza for at least six months under the umbrella of the Palestinian Authority.

Following the summit, Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty told a press conference that Egypt will begin to promote its reconstruction plan internationally.

He detailed that the plan includes the establishment of a seaport and an airport in the Gaza Strip and the recycling of the rubble left by the destruction in Gaza.

According to the summit’s final statement, the Arab leaders issued a warning that any attempts to displace the Palestinian people or to annex any part of the occupied Palestinian territory would lead the region into a new phase of conflict, undermine opportunities for stability, and expand the conflict to other countries in the region.

The Arab leaders pledged to provide all types of financial, material, and political support for the implementation of the reconstruction plan, urging the international community and financing institutions to promptly provide the necessary support for the plan, according to the statement.

The Arab leaders also emphasised the urgency of implementing the second and third phases of the ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, stressing the importance of each party’s commitment to its obligations, particularly the Israeli side, to achieve a permanent cessation of “aggression” against Gaza.

They demanded that Israel should completely withdraw from the Gaza Strip, including the Philadelphi Corridor between Gaza and Egypt, and ensure safe, adequate, and immediate access to humanitarian, shelter, and medical aid without obstacles.

The Arab leaders vowed to work on establishing a trust fund to receive financial pledges from all donor countries and financing institutions to implement recovery and reconstruction projects.

The plan counters a previous proposal by US President Donald Trump, which suggests redeveloping Gaza and relocating Gazans to neighbouring countries, including Egypt and Jordan.

Oren Marmorstein, spokesperson for Israel’s Foreign Ministry, rejected the plan on X, reiterating Israel’s support for Trump’s plan.

For his part, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stressed the UN’s readiness to back the Egypt-drafted plan, stressing that Gaza should remain as part of the State of Palestine.

Describing the situation in Gaza as “horrific,” Guterres called for allowing humanitarian aid into the enclave.

Hamas welcomed the summit’s outcomes, saying that they reflect significant political support for the Palestinian cause, particularly amid the escalation of “Israeli aggression”.

In a press statement, Hamas praised the positions of Arab leaders during the summit, highlighting their rejection of attempts to displace Palestinians or undermine their cause.

Hamas stressed that the unified Arab stance sends a clear message that the Palestinian “Nakba,” the mass displacement and dispossession of Palestinians during the 1948 Arab-Israeli war, will not be repeated.

The group also commended the summit’s adoption of the Gaza reconstruction plan, calling for all necessary resources to ensure its success.

Washington, March 5: US President Donald Trump, in his first address to a joint session of Congress, said the reciprocal tariffs would take effect on April 2, reinforcing his administration’s stance on trade policy and criticising European Union, China, Brazil, India, and South Korea for high tariffs.

He said, “Whatever they tax us, we tax them.”Trump said.

“Other countries have used tariffs against us for decades, and now it is our turn to start using them against those other countries. On average, the European Union, China, Brazil, India, Mexico, Canada, and countless other nations charge us tremendously higher tariffs than we charge them; it is very unfair,” said Trump.

“India charges us tariffs 100 per cent, China’s average tariff on our products is twice what we charge them.. South Korea’s average tariff is four times higher… the system is not fair to the US, and it never was…on April 2, reciprocal tariffs kick in, and whatever they tariff us… we will tariff them…whatever they tax us, we will tax them. If they do non-monetary tariff to keep us out of their market, then we will do non-monetary barriers to keep them out of our market…”

“Those goods that come in from other countries and companies, they’re really, really in a bad position in so many different ways. They’re uninspected. They may be very dirty and disgusting as they come in, and they pour in and hurt our American farmers,” said Trump.

While hitting out at the previous Democrat regime, he said, “We inherited from the last administration an economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare. Their policies drove up energy prices and drove the necessities of life out of reach for millions of Americans…we suffered the worst inflation in 48 years…As president, I am fighting every day to reverse this damage and make America affordable again”.

In a push for tax deductions, Trump said he wants to make interest payments on car loans tax-deductible, but only if the vehicles are made in the US. He also stressed his commitment to boosting domestic manufacturing, stating, “We want to cut taxes on domestic production.”

He clarified that there would be no tax on Social Security benefits for seniors.

Trump emphasised his administration’s commitment to lowering energy costs as part of his fight against inflation. He criticised the Biden administration for shutting down over 100 power plants and asserted, “We are opening up many of those power plants right now.”

As Trump outlined the budget cuts his administration claimed to have made, Democrats grew increasingly vocal, responding with groans and shouts of “Not true!,” “Bullshit!,” and “Those are lies!”

The 78-year-old President said he was “just getting started” on his radical plans to reshape the country. “The American Dream is surging — bigger and better than ever before. The American Dream is unstoppable, and our country is on the verge of a comeback the likes of which the world has never witnessed, and perhaps will never witness again,” he said

The president hailed the achievements of his first six weeks, vowing to press on with his polarizing bid to reshape the US government and end the Ukraine war — whatever the cost.

“We have accomplished more in 43 days than most administrations accomplish in four years or eight years — and we are just getting started,” Trump said to frequent chants from loyal lawmakers of “USA, USA!”