John Bolton, the previous National Security Advisor to the U.S. has voiced his apprehension regarding President Donald Trump’s high tariff policy, mainly referring to those imposed on India. He is of opinion that this may potentially jeopardize a longstanding diplomatic effort of the U.S. that focused on swaying India’s geopolitical alignment away from Russia and China. Bolton criticized President Trump’s approach, highlighting a perceived inconsistency where Trump practices considerable discretion towards Beijing while placing hefty tariffs on India that extend beyond 50 per cent. This includes a particularly notable 25 per cent secondary tariff applicable to India’s purchase of Russian oil.
Bolton expressed in no uncertain terms that Trump’s perceived soft touch on China juxtaposed with his heavy tariff imposition on India might put in danger years of strategic American endeavors aimed at pulling India out from the zones of influence of Russia and China. Bolton stands clear in his viewpoint that this apparent prejudice could turn out to be a substantial blunder, given these tariffs have already sparked an overwhelmingly adverse response within India. They find it puzzling as China, despite its similar geopolitical roles, is not subjected to such penalizations.
During Trump’s term, a limited trade discord with China was initiated around April, which was then put on hiatus, pending additional negotiations; however, India was subjected to more persistent trade pressure. Bolton pointed out the sense of irony rooted within these actions, noting that the secondary tariff originally devised to target Russia might actually push India further into cooperation with Moscow and China. This could ostensibly lead the two nations to conspire together when negotiating against the U.S., an entirely diverged outcome from what was intended.
Adding his voice to Bolton’s assessment was US trade expert Christopher Padilla. He gave a stark warning that these considerable tariffs could possibly inflict long-term harm to relations between India and the U.S. Moreover, they might also instigate doubts and uncertainties regarding the reliability of the U.S. as a stable and trustworthy ally for India. The terms upon which the tariff policy has been established are forming cracks in the confidence India could place in the U.S. with respect to international trade relations.
India has made clear that it has no intention to cease imports of Russian oil, terming the imposed tariffs as unjust and irrational. This is evincing the growing discomfort within the Indian administration in response to the American approach. Meanwhile, Russia has taken a stance in supporting India and has accused the U.S. of exercising illicit trade pressure on other nations. This scenario, where India has taken a stand against the tariffs and Russia demonstrating solidarity could lead to an intense diplomatic standoff with the U.S., thereby gravely straining international relations.
The post John Bolton Criticizes Trump over High Tariffs on India appeared first on Real News Now.
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