As the deadline for Trump’s secondary sanctions inches closer, the discussion around India’s way forward intensifies. Joining these discussions was Nikki Haley, former US Ambassador to the United Nations (UN), who came to advise the Trump administration not to damage the decades-long relationship with India.
Nikki Haley Advises Against Trump Tariffs
In an opinion piece published in Newsweek, Nikki Haley shared her thoughts on current US President Donald Trump’s sanctions on India. In her piece, the former US Ambassador wrote that the 50% tariffs on Indian imports will lead to a deterioration of the India-US relationship, which she called a “serious strategic mistake.”
Haley also pointed out the US’s double standard in terms of tariffs, calling out Trump for not imposing sanctions on China for energy trade with Russia. These comments from her follow those of US official Peter Navarro, who criticised India for going closer to China and Scott Bessent, Treasury Secretary, who justified US action on India and not on China.
Nikki Haley also took India’s side while talking about a reliable partner. She praised India’s democracy while comparing it to “Communist-led China.” She advocated for closer ties with India, calling it a “no-brainer” in terms of trade and to control China’s dominance in the region.
Read More: Why Nikki Haley Is Defending India Ties While Slamming Trump’s Trade Double-Standards
Nikki Haley Calls For India to Accept US Terms
While taking India’s side in the ongoing tariff back and forth, Haley also urged India to accept US terms on oil trade with Russia. She urged President Donald Trump to initiate talks with India to reach a common understanding on the situation.
She called for the US administration to fix its ties with India and treat it similarly to China. Haley pointed out US and India’s shared democratic values and how they would make for a better partnership in countering China.
She emphasised the growing divide in the US-India relations and how it is easily avoidable through dialogue and common understanding. She concluded her piece by writing, “As India’s power grows, China’s ambitions will have to shrink.”
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Trump’s Tariff Deadline on India Inches Closer
US President Donald Trump imposed 25% tariffs on Indian goods in his attempt to urge Americans to opt for more American-made products. Following his initial announcement, he announced another 25% tariff on Indian imports as secondary sanctions. Trump cited India’s continued oil trade with Russia as the reason for additional tariffs.
From the day of that announcement, there has been a back and forth between US and Indian officials in an attempt to reach a common understanding. In response, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a statement calling India’s energy imports from Russia a decision made to ensure energy security for 1.4 billion people of India.
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