Washington – U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick predicted that India will soon return to trade negotiations with the United States, potentially within one to two months, to address tensions over tariffs and geopolitical alignments. In a Bloomberg TV interview, Lutnick suggested that India would express regret and seek a deal with President Donald Trump, leaving the final decision to the president. He drew parallels to Canada’s recent trade concessions, noting that economic pressures led Ottawa to soften its stance after initially resisting U.S. demands.
Lutnick criticized India’s increased reliance on Russian oil, highlighting that India’s oil imports from Russia have surged from less than 2% to 40% since the Ukraine conflict began, driven by discounted prices due to Western sanctions. He called this shift “wrong” and urged India to choose between aligning with the U.S. or facing a 50% tariff on its exports. Lutnick emphasized the U.S.’s economic leverage, describing its $30 trillion economy as the world’s primary consumer market, compelling nations like India and China to prioritize trade with America.
The remarks follow President Trump’s Truth Social post, where he claimed the U.S. had “lost” India and Russia to China, accompanied by an old photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Chinese and Russian leaders at the SCO summit in Tianjin. Lutnick dismissed India’s participation in the BRICS alliance—comprising Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—as “bravado,” urging New Delhi to support the U.S. dollar and open its markets to avoid punitive tariffs.
India has defended its oil purchases, citing national interests and market dynamics. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman recently affirmed India’s intent to continue procuring Russian oil. Lutnick maintained that the U.S. remains open to dialogue, but stressed that India’s businesses would ultimately push for a deal due to reliance on the American market.
-
-
-
-
