After Modi’s Xi-Putin Meetings, Trump Brands US-India Trade a ‘One-Sided Disaster’
Amid a fresh wave of rhetoric over US-India trade ties, former US President Donald Trump has launched a scathing attack on New Delhi, calling the relationship a “one-sided disaster”. His remarks came just hours after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin, meetings that hold immense geopolitical significance in the backdrop of increased tariffs imposed by Washington.
Trump’s comments in a post on Truth Social not only reflect his disappointment with India’s trade practices but also highlight the growing tensions between Washington and New Delhi over tariffs, oil imports and defence purchases. The remarks have also been sharply criticised by Democrats and civil society groups, who argue that Trump’s stance undermines the long-term strategic partnership between the two democracies.
Trump’s Harsh Criticism of India
In his post, Trump accused India of taking a disproportionate advantage from trade with the US and restricting US companies’ access to its domestic market. He said, “Few people understand that we do very little trade with India, but they do a lot of trade with us. In other words, they sell a huge amount of goods to us, their biggest ‘customer’, but we sell very little to them – it has been a completely one-sided relationship by now, and it has been for decades.”
He further alleged that India’s historically high tariffs have prevented US companies from setting foot in the country. According to Trump, this imbalance has existed for decades, but his administration was the first to confront it head on. He wrote, “The reason India has imposed such high tariffs on us, more than any other country, that our businesses are unable to sell in India. It has been a completely one-sided disaster!”
Trump also referred to India’s dependence on Russian energy and military imports. He said, “India buys most of its oil and military products from Russia, very little from the United States. They have now offered to reduce their tariffs completely, but it is too late. They should have done this years ago.”
The Geopolitical Context
Trump’s statement came on the same day when Prime Minister Modi met both Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin. These meetings underscored India’s delicate balance on the global stage. While New Delhi is trying to maintain strong economic and defence ties with Moscow and manage its complex relationship with Beijing, Washington is pressing India to align more closely with US strategic interests, especially to counter China’s influence in Asia.
Against this backdrop, Trump’s criticism becomes even more significant. By linking India’s Russian oil imports and defence purchases to broader trade disputes, he sought to portray India as an underminer of US interests, despite being a key strategic partner. The message was clear: unless India bows to US trade demands, Washington may view their partnership as less valuable.
Democratic Criticism of Trump’s Tariffs
Trump’s comments have not gone unchallenged domestically either. Democrat members of the US House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee accused the former president of “imposing tariffs on India, harming Americans and damaging US-India relations in the process”.
They pointed out that Trump’s tariffs, which include a 50 per cent duty on Indian goods and a 25 per cent penalty on Russian oil imports, pose a risk of damaging bilateral relations. The committee also highlighted the hypocrisy in Trump’s approach and said that China, one of the largest importers of Russian oil, has not faced such penalties.
In a statement shared on X, Democrat members of the committee said, “Instead of banning China or other countries from buying large quantities of Russian oil, Trump is imposing tariffs on India, harming Americans and damaging US-India relations in the process.”
The criticism reflects a widespread view among many in Washington that Trump’s transactional approach to trade undermines America’s strategic alliances and creates unnecessary tensions with key partners such as India.
Civil Society’s Opposition to Trade Concessions
Beyond the political arena, civil society groups in India have also voiced their opinions on the ongoing trade disputes. The Forum for Trade Justice, a coalition of organisations including farmer unions, trade unions, health groups, environmental activists and trader bodies, has strongly opposed any trade deal that prioritises US interests over India’s long-term goals.
The Forum argues that a bilateral trade deal driven by Washington would be less about “fair trade” and more about reshaping India’s domestic and foreign policies to suit US economic and geopolitical interests.
“In the current negotiations, India’s interests will not be protected by subservience. Instead, they will be protected by being firm and resolute and by keeping our long-term economic prospects, developmental goals and ecological security in mind. Our negotiators should adequately brief Prime Minister Modi on key issues. This can ensure that President Trump does not further distort the deal, which is to be finalised at the official and ministerial levels, against India’s interests,” the Forum said in a statement.
The statement urged both the government and the public to resist external pressure and unite to protect India’s sovereignty. Pointing to the fact that China imports more Russian oil than India, yet has not faced US tariffs, the forum suggested that India should take a lesson from Beijing’s aggressive stance.
A Test of Sovereignty and Strategy
Growing domestic opposition to Trump’s strident rhetoric and concessions has put India in a difficult position. On the one hand, New Delhi values its growing strategic partnership with the US, especially in terms of balancing China’s influence in the Indo-Pacific. On the other, it must avoid bowing to Washington’s demands, especially when those demands seem inconsistent or politically motivated.
For India, the challenge is to maintain its independent foreign policy while deepening cooperation with Washington on shared interests such as technology, defence and counter-terrorism. The Modi government has often described India’s approach as “multi-alignment”, seeking constructive relations with all major powers, including the US, Russia and China, rather than being tied into rigid alliances.
Trump’s rhetoric, however, makes this balancing act even more complex, especially if US policy is seen as punitive rather than supportive.
The Stakes for US-India Relations
The impact of Trump’s comments could go far beyond trade negotiations. India has an increasingly important role in the US strategic plan in Asia, especially in the context of the Quad alliance with Japan and Australia. A rift in trade relations could undermine broader cooperation, and collective efforts to balance the rise of China.
For the US, distancing itself from India risks weakening a partnership that many in Washington see as indispensable to future global stability. For India, giving in too easily to US demands risks domestic backlash and the erosion of its independent foreign policy.
Democrats’ criticism of Trump underscores an important point: while trade differences are inevitable, the broader strategic relationship should not be jeopardised by short-term disputes.
Final Analysis
Donald Trump’s description of US-India trade as a “unilateral disaster” highlights the grave challenges facing the bilateral relationship in a changing global landscape. His accusations that India has long been unfairly benefited from trade, as well as the penalties associated with Russian oil imports, reflect his typical transactional approach to foreign policy.
However, this strategy carries risks, from Democrats in the US to civil society in India. By targeting India while sparing China, Trump is opening himself up to accusations of hypocrisy and selective policymaking. At the same time, his confrontational tone threatens to erode trust in a partnership that is vital to both countries’ long-term strategic interests.
For India, the way forward requires a careful balance. It must remain firm in protecting its sovereignty and long-term economic goals while at the same time keeping the door open to deeper cooperation with Washington. The challenge for the United States, especially under future administrations, is to reconcile trade concerns with India’s undeniable importance as a strategic ally.
The coming months will determine whether trade disputes derail this vital partnership or whether a cool head is used to keep US-India relations on track.
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