WASHINGTON: A day after claiming that India wants a trade deal with the US, President Donald

on Monday said that he has spoken to the Indian government over tariffs and was assured that they would be reduced substantially.

Describing India as the "tariff king", Trump told reporters at the

that New Delhi "called us and they say, 'We want to start negotiations immediately.'"

Yesterday,

that India wants to have a trade deal with the US because it does not want him to impose tariffs on their products.

Trump's remarks, for the third time in recent weeks, come days after assistant US Trade Representative Mark Linscott returned from India where he had detailed discussion with senior Indian officials on bilateral trade and a possible trade deal between the two countries.

A senior White House official told reporters today that the Trump administration would love to have a trade deal with India, but it is too early to talk about it yet.

"We want to (have a trade) deal (with India). (But) It's way too early for me. I do not want to get in front of that process," White House economic advisor Larry Kudlow said when asked what kind of trade deal US wants to have with India.

Trump often accuses India of imposing 100 per cent tariffs on American products.