US President Donald Trump has threatened to impose fresh tariffs against India, Canada and Mexico, alleging they are violating fair dealings.
President Trump on Monday signalled that his administration may introduce new tariffs on agricultural imports, specifically Indian rice and fertilizer sourced from Canada. His comments came during a meeting at the White House, where he also announced a $12 billion support package for American farmers facing mounting economic pressures.
The remarks highlight a growing frustration within the Trump administration as trade discussions with both India and Canada continue without any meaningful progress. Trump suggested that tougher measures may now be necessary to shield American producers from increasing competition.
During the meeting, Trump reiterated concerns raised by US rice farmers, who claim that imports from India, Vietnam and Thailand have depressed domestic prices. The president said he was determined to address what he described as “dumping" of foreign rice onto the American market.
President Trump questioned his advisers about India’s trade practices, asking, “Scott, India. Tell me about India. Why is India allowed to do that? They have to tariffs. Do they have an exemption on rice?" In response, Scott Bessent clarified, “No sir. We’re still working on their trade deal."
Trump pressed further, saying the country “shouldn’t be dumping," and instructed his team, “Give me the countries if you could. Mark it down, Scott," signalling his intent to review the issue more closely.
“They shouldn’t be dumping," he said. “I heard that from others. You can’t do that." Farmers have argued that cheaper imported rice has eroded their market share at a time when production costs are rising and overseas opportunities remain limited.
Trump said he would “take care" of the matter, hinting strongly that tariffs could be used as a tool unless India agrees to review its export practices.
The president also spoke about the high volume of fertilizer imported from Canada, suggesting that new duties may also be introduced in this sector. He argued that imposing tariffs could help encourage more domestic manufacturing. “A lot of it does come in from Canada, and so we’ll end up putting very severe tariffs on that, if we have to," he said. “That’s the way you want to bolster here. And we can do it here."
President Trump also threatened to impose an additional five percent tariff on Mexico, alleging it is violating a water-sharing treaty. "I have authorized documentation to impose a 5% Tariff on Mexico if this water isn't released, IMMEDIATELY," Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform, saying crops and livestock were being badly affected in Texas.
Trump accused Mexico of violating a 1944 treaty under which the United States shares water from the Colorado River in exchange for flows from the Rio Grande, which forms part of the border between the two countries.
Trump said Mexico owed 800,000 acre-feet of water to the United States under the terms of the treaty, demanding it "release 200,000 acre-feet of water before December 31st, and the rest must come soon after."
"The longer Mexico takes to release the water, the more our Farmers are hurt," Trump added.
The move to boost water supplies for Texas farmers came the same day the 79-year-old president announced a $12 billion aid package for the US agriculture industry, rocked by fallout from his trade and tariff policies.
Trump in April had previously threatened Mexico with economic repercussions regarding the water dispute, prompting Mexico at the time to immediately send water and "continue fulfilling its commitments under the 1944 treaty."
Mexican goods currently face a 25% tariff unless they fall under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), a free trade deal struck during Trump's first term and which Washington is aiming to renegotiate in 2026.
Trump met with his Mexican counterpart Claudia Sheinbaum last week on the sidelines of the 2026 World Cup draw, along with Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, to discuss the future of the trade deal.
The talks marked the first in-person meeting between Trump and Sheinbaum.–AFP