"If Indians Don't Budge...": Trump Adviser's New Trade Warning To New Delhi
Donald Trump's top economic adviser has warned that if India fails to curb its Russian crude trade, the US President will not ease his stance on Washington's punitive tariffs on Indian imports.
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Trump's Economic Adviser Issues Stern Warning on India-US Trade Relations
Donald Trump's chief economic adviser has issued a stark warning regarding US-India trade relations, stating that without concessions from New Delhi on Russian oil purchases, the President will maintain harsh tariff policies. Kevin Hassett, Director of the US National Economic Council, described negotiations with India as "complicated" and criticized what he termed as India's "intransigence" toward opening markets to American products.
"If the Indians don't budge, I don't think President Trump will," Hassett declared firmly. The United States recently escalated tensions by doubling tariffs on Indian imports to an unprecedented 50 percent—the highest rate applied to any nation except Brazil. This includes a substantial 25 percent additional duty specifically targeting India's Russian crude oil purchases.
"Indian Intransigence" 🤯: US Economic Adviser - "If the Indians Don't Budge, I Don't Think Trump Will Either"Kevin Hassett seems to think that protecting India's rights and rejecting elements of an FTA that aren't mutually beneficial is INTRANSIGENT - simply India refusing to… https://t.co/gBZ3C9DEFS pic.twitter.com/cnWGXmUwAP
— RT_India (@RT_India_news) August 28, 2025
Elaborating on the complexity of trade talks, Hassett explained that negotiations "have been tied to the pressure we've been trying to put on Russia in order to secure a peace deal and save millions of lives. And then there's the Indian intransigence about opening their markets to our products."
Hassett compared India-US trade negotiations to a marathon, emphasizing the need for patience and a long-term perspective. "When you look at trade negotiations, one lesson we've all learnt is that you need to keep your eyes on the horizon and recognise that there are going to be ebbs and flows before we reach the final position," he stated.
Trump Administration's Tariff Perspective
Hassett's comments align with earlier statements from US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who clarified that the elevated tariffs on India extend beyond concerns about Russian oil purchases and reflect frustrations with the prolonged trade negotiations.
"I'd thought we'd have a deal in May or June; that India could be one of the earliest deals. But they, kind of, tapped us along," Bessent revealed during a Fox Business interview on Wednesday.
Bessent characterized India as having been "a bit uncooperative" throughout discussions and acknowledged, "This is a very complicated relationship."
Despite these tensions, he expressed optimism: "I do think India is the world's largest democracy, and the US is the world's largest economy. I think at the end of the day we will come together."
India's Position
India has demonstrated resolve in the face of American pressure, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledging he would "never compromise" on protecting Indian farmers' interests.
Government assessments indicate the tariffs will affect $48.2 billion worth of Indian exports to the United States. While officials suggest immediate impacts might appear limited, they caution about potential broader economic consequences that require careful management.
Authorities warn these new duties could render exports to the US economically unfeasible, potentially resulting in job losses and decreased economic growth for India.