US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick Says India Will Come Back To Negotiation Table

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has expressed confidence that India will eventually yield to US demands regarding tariffs, despite its current firm stance. He highlighted India's increasing oil trade with Russia and suggested that New Delhi cannot resist Washington's influence indefinitely. Lutnick warned that if India does not alter its course, it might face significant 50 per cent tariffs on its exports to the US.

Lutnick drew comparisons with Canada's past tariff conflict with the US, noting that retaliatory actions tend to harm smaller economies more. "It's all bravado because it feels good to fight with the biggest client. But eventually, businesses will demand a deal with America," he stated. He predicted that within a month or two, India would likely return to negotiations.

India's Oil Trade and Tariff Threats

He further elaborated, "So I think, yes, in a month or two months, I think India is going to be at the table and they're going to say they're sorry and they're going to try to make a deal with Donald Trump." Lutnick added that it would then be up to President Trump how he wishes to handle discussions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Lutnick issued a stern warning to India, outlining three conditions for avoiding the US's 50 per cent tariffs. He insisted that India must decide between aligning with the US or strengthening ties with Russia and China through Brics. "India doesn't want to open their market. Stop buying Russian oil. And stop being a part of Brics," he asserted.

Economic Dominance and Global Trade

Emphasising America's economic power, Lutnick remarked, "We are the consumer of the world. It's our USD 30 trillion economy. Eventually, the customer is always right." His comments came in response to Trump's Truth Social post where the US President mentioned losing India and Russia to China.

Lutnick pointed out that India's oil imports from Russia surged from 2 per cent to over 40 per cent following the conflict's onset. He criticised this move as "just plain wrong" and "ridiculous," urging India to choose its alliances wisely.

Negotiation Willingness

When questioned about potential negotiations with India, Lutnick affirmed, "We're always willing to talk." He emphasised that both China and India sell goods to the US but cannot rely solely on each other for trade. The American economy remains a crucial consumer market globally.

The tensions between India and the US escalated earlier this year when Trump imposed steep tariffs in response to India's continued purchase of Russian oil. Several Cabinet members criticised India's policy sharply. New Delhi condemned these actions as "unfair" and questioned why China was not similarly targeted despite being a major buyer of Russian crude.