Former US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan has blasted President Donald Trump’s tariff policy on India, warning it is weakening America’s global image and driving New Delhi closer to Beijing.
“The American brand globally is in the toilet. Look at India. Trump has executed a massive trade offensive against them. Now India is thinking, we need to sit with China to hedge against America,” Sullivan said. He argued that Washington, once seen as a steady partner, is now increasingly viewed by allies as “a disruptor,” while China steadily gains diplomatic ground. India, he added, is a clear example of this trend.
Successive US administrations had sought to build stronger ties with New Delhi, particularly to counter China. But Sullivan warned Trump’s tariff escalation has jeopardised that strategy. “Here’s a country we were trying to build a deeper relationship with. Instead, because of these tariffs, India now feels compelled to explore closer engagement with China,” he said.
The remarks came days after Washington slapped a 50% tariff on Indian exports — the steepest duty on any country — effective August 27. The hike is expected to hit key sectors such as textiles, jewellery, and machinery, sparking concerns over jobs and growth in India.
Trump has justified the move as retaliation for India’s continued imports of Russian oil despite the Ukraine conflict. But analysts, including a report by Jefferies, suggest the escalation was also fuelled by Trump’s frustration over being denied a mediating role in the India-Pakistan dispute earlier this year, with unresolved agricultural issues adding to the strain.
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