Trump aide warns India to ‘play ball’ on trade, says New Delhi ‘needs fixing’
Washington, DC: In a fresh warning to India amid ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick of the Trump administration said New Delhi “needs fixing,” cautioning that if it wants access to American consumers, it must “play ball with the President.”
Taking aim at India and Brazil, Lutnick argued that both countries must do more to open their markets and stop undermining US interests.
"We have a bunch of countries to fix, like Switzerland, Brazil, India – these are countries that need to really react correctly to America. Open their markets, stop taking actions that harm America, and that's why we're off sides with them," Lutnick said in an interview with NewsNation.
India is currently subject to some of the steepest US tariffs, including 50 percent duties on certain imports, along with a newly imposed 100 percent levy on branded and patented pharmaceutical products.
The measure has left Indian pharmaceutical firms, which derive about 40 percent of their revenue from the US market, in a difficult position.
The 50 percent tariff on Indian goods also incorporates a 25 percent penalty tied to New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
According to Lutnick, "These countries (India and Brazil) have to understand that if you want to sell to the US consumers, you've got to play ball with the President of the United States."
He also underlined Trump’s approach to trade, saying, "The way that President Trump does deals, the first deal is always the best deal. And then the next deal is higher, the next deal is higher, the next deal's higher."
Lutnick identified India and Brazil as major sticking points in ongoing US trade talks.
"You still have Taiwan. That's a big one that's coming pretty soon. I expect to really be talking to them and sorting that out. So a bunch of countries left, but the big ones, India and Brazil, are little... but we'll sort it out over time," he said.
Amid these tensions, India and the US have resumed formal discussions.
A delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited Washington from September 22 to 24, holding talks with US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer and Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor.
According to a Commerce Ministry statement, "The delegation had constructive meetings with the US Government on various aspects of the deal. Both sides exchanged views on possible contours of the deal, and it was decided to continue the engagement with a view to achieve an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement."
The Indian delegation also met with American businesses and investors, with the ministry highlighting continued confidence in India’s growth prospects and rising interest in expanding investments in the country.
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