WASHINGTON, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said Thursday that Washington would retaliate against India's high tariffs.

"We are right now a reciprocal nation," Trump said at a press conference at the White House after holding talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Whatever India charges, we're charging them. Whatever another country charges, we're charging them. So it's called reciprocal, which I think is a very fair way."

"I don't blame them necessarily. But it's a different way of doing business. It's very hard to sell into India because they have trade barriers," Trump said.

"I had discussions with India in the first term (of office) about the fact that their tariffs were very high," Trump said. "And I was unable to get a concession. So we're just going to do it the easy way."

"We're just going to say, whatever you charge, we charge. And I think that's fair for the people of the United States, and I think it's actually fair for India," said Trump.

Trump's meeting with Modi followed his signing of a presidential memorandum on "Fair and Reciprocal Plan" aimed at imposing "a reciprocal tariff" on U.S. trading partners.

In the White House Fact Sheet on the plan, examples of unfair trade relations included India's average applied Most Favored Nation tariff at 39 percent.

Ahead of Modi's visit, India has offered some concessions to alleviate trade tensions, including lowering tariffs on Harley-Davidson motorcycles.

Trump said Modi has agreed to buy more U.S. oil and gas, possibly making the United States the "number one supplier" of oil and gas to India. Enditem

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