It’s all bravado, India will bend, predicts Howard Lutnick on Trump’s tariffs

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick predicted that India will eventually give in to US pressure over tariffs, despite its current tough stance. Speaking about India’s growing oil trade with Russia, he argued that New Delhi cannot afford to defy Washington for long.

“Before the Russian conflict, India bought less than 2% of its oil from Russia. Now it’s 40% because it’s cheap, sanctioned oil. That’s just plain wrong,” Lutnick said. He warned that India must choose between aligning with the U.S. or deepening ties with Russia and China through BRICS.

Emphasising America’s economic dominance, he said, “We are the consumer of the world. It’s our $30 trillion economy. Eventually, the customer is always right.”

Lutnick added that if India does not change course, it may face steep 50% tariffs on its exports to the US.

Drawing parallels with Canada’s earlier tariff dispute with Washington, Lutnick said retaliatory measures only hurt smaller economies.

“It’s all bravado because it feels good to fight with the biggest client. But eventually, businesses will demand a deal with America,” he said.

Lutnick added that within “a month or two,” India will likely come back to the negotiating table.

“So I think, yes, in a month or two months, I think India is going to be at the table and they’re going to say they’re sorry and they’re going to try to make a deal with Donald Trump,” he said.

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