The goal of Donald Trump’s sanctions against India is to reduce Moscow’s oil profits and pressure President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire. On August 27, twenty-one days from now, the higher tariffs will go into force.
Trump said in a new statement on Thursday that trade talks with India are not possible until the tariff dispute is settled.
When asked if he anticipates more trade talks with India after he placed 50% tariffs on the country, Trump responded in the Oval Office, “No, not until we get it resolved.”
On the current situation between India and the US, prominent Indian-American attorney Ravi Batra said “much more is at stake” amid Trump’s tariffs.
What’s next for India?
India’s external affairs ministry’s secretary of economic relations, Dammu Ravi, told reporters on Thursday that the US tariff hike “lacks logic.”
“This is a temporary aberration, a temporary problem that the country will face, but in course of time, we are confident that the world will find solutions,” he stated.
Additionally, he hinted that India would try to recalibrate its international alliances.
PM Modi and the President of Brazil discuss
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva of Brazil spoke over the phone Thursday evening about “regional and global issues of mutual interest” as the Latin American country’s leader lays out strategies for BRICS countries to address Donald Trump’s taxes.
In its statement, Brazil claimed that it and India were the nations most impacted by Trump’s taxes and that they needed to deal with the difficulties of the present circumstance.
“Like-minded countries will look for cooperation and economic engagement that will be mutually beneficial to all sides,” Dammu Ravi told the reporters.
Putin held talks with India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval at the Kremlin on Thursday, with Russia’s state-run RIA news agency reporting that they had stressed their commitment to a “strategic partnership”.
Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, minister of external affairs, is anticipated to travel to Russia on a previously planned trip. Later this year, Modi is anticipated to welcome Russian President Vladimir Putin to India.
PM Modi’s trip to China
Amid rising tensions with Washington, Modi is also getting ready for his first trip to China in more than seven years, which might signal a diplomatic realignment.
According to sources in New Delhi who spoke to Bloomberg, Modi will attend a summit of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional security organization managed by Beijing, and have a side-meeting with President Xi Jinping. The dates of the SCO summit are set for August 31 and September 1 in Tianjin.
On Wednesday, Xu Feihong, China’s envoy to New Delhi, offered Modi spiritual support about the tariffs.
“Give the bully an inch, he will take a mile,” Xu wrote on X over a quote from Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi denouncing the use of tariffs “as a weapon to suppress other countries.”
PM Modi vows ‘no compromise’ on farmers’ interests
In his first remarks following Trump’s tariff bombshell, Modi stated on Thursday that he would not jeopardize the interests of the nation’s farmers, even if it meant paying a high price.
“The welfare of our farmers is our top priority,” Modi declared during a gathering in New Delhi.
“India would never sacrifice the welfare of its fishermen, farmers, or dairy industry. And I’m aware that I will personally pay a high price for it,” he remarked.
US import taxes are one part of a multilayered tariff strategy that includes national security-based sectoral tariffs on semiconductors, pharmaceuticals, autos, steel, aluminum, copper, lumber and other goods. On Wednesday, Trump stated that the levies on microchips might be raised to 100%.
If Trump does not authorize an extension of a previous truce, China, which is on a separate tariff track, might face a tariff increase on August 12.
In an effort to put pressure on Moscow to halt its war in Ukraine, he has threatened to impose more taxes on China’s purchases of Russian oil.
(With assistance from organizations.)
(With agency contributions)
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