President Trump calls India’s tariff hike ‘unacceptable,’ demands its withdrawal

US president Donald Trump has called new Indian tariffs on US products “unacceptable”.

Trump demanded that they be withdrawn.

India imposed retaliatory tariffs on 28 US products earlier in June, after the US announced it was withdrawing India’s preferential trade treatment.

Mr Trump’s criticism came a day after the two sides had downplayed tensions.

He is due to meet Mr Modi on the sidelines of the G20 summit, which begins tomorrow in Osaka, Japan.

Trade tensions have been simmering between the two countries.

Last year, India retaliated against US tariff hikes on aluminium and steel by raising its own import duties on a range of goods.

Mr Trump has also threatened to impose sanctions if India purchases oil from Iran and goes ahead with plans to buy Russian s-400 anti-aircraft missiles.