America’s Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has said that America will have to ‘fix’ countries like India and Brazil. He said this in an interview given to an American channel amid the tariff dispute. The US has imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on India, including a 25 percent duty imposed on New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases.
Lutnick said that these countries will have to respond appropriately by opening their markets and stopping actions that harm American interests. India has been citing its energy purchases as driven by national interest and market dynamics.
The Trump administration has imposed tariffs of up to 50 percent on India. This is the highest tariff rate imposed on any country. This tariff also includes a 25 percent duty imposed on the purchase of Russian oil. India is buying discounted Russian oil amid sanctions imposed by Western countries following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. India believes that its energy purchases are based on national interest and market dynamics.
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‘We will have to cooperate with America…’
Lutnick said, “Many countries like India, Brazil, Switzerland, and Taiwan need to be ‘fixed’ because the US has unresolved trade issues with them.”
He further said that these countries have to understand that if they want to sell something to American consumers, they will have to cooperate with the President of America. These trade issues will be resolved with time.
Also read: ‘India should change its approach towards US…’, Trump’s minister said this big thing amid tariff war
Deadlock on trade agreement…
America remains India’s largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year (2024-25). Bilateral trade between the two countries is worth US $ 131.84 billion. America contributes about 18 percent to India’s total merchandise exports, 6.22 percent to imports and 10.73 percent to total trade. Both countries are hoping to double bilateral trade from the current $191 billion to $500 billion by 2030.
Doubt on date of agreement
A delegation led by Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was holding meetings with the American side in New York last week. Both countries expected that the first installment of the bilateral trade agreement would be completed by October-November 2025. A team of US officials had also visited India on September 16 to discuss the agreement and had decided to intensify efforts.
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