With New Delhi continuing its calibrated approach in dealing with the United States against the backdrop of 'punishing' tariff announcements by the Trump administration, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Saturday said that countries like India and Brazil “need to react correctly to America" and open their markets for American goods.
This comment followed his other big pronouncement where he said the Trump administration has placed India among the "big ones" Washington wants to settle trade disputes with. "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.
Lutnick’s comments come as US tries to negotiate a trade deal with India after imposing 50% tariffs on Indian exports to the US. Brazil is also locked in on a trade war with the US.
Trump intensified trade tensions with Brazil by imposing a 50% tariff on all Brazilian imports in August. This move escalated a diplomatic crisis between the two nations, with Trump citing Brazil’s treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro as a “witch hunt" and alleging that Brazil’s actions threaten US national security.
India currently faces some of the steepest U.S. trade levies, after the Trump administration imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, including a 25 per cent penalty for New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil. "These countries (India and Brazil) have to understand that if you want to sell to the U.S. consumer, you've got to play ball with the president of the United States," he said.
New Delhi and Washington have resumed trade negotiations. A delegation led by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited Washington between September 22 and 24. The delegation met U.S. Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer and U.S. Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor to discuss the contours of a possible agreement.
"The delegation had constructive meetings with the U.S. Government on various aspects of the deal. Both sides exchanged views on possible contours of the deal and it was decided to continue the engagements with a view to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement," the Commerce Ministry said in a statement.
Indian officials also met U.S. businesses and investors, with New Delhi highlighting opportunities in the domestic market. "The business leaders reposed confidence in the India growth story and expressed their desire to intensify their business activities in India," the ministry said
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