Former US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo has slammed the Trump administration's trade policy, warning that America is making a big mistake with India and other global allies.
Speaking at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, Raimondo said, “We’re making a big mistake with India. The Trump administration has pissed off all our allies. America First is one thing. America Alone is a disastrous policy."
She also said that US current posture risks eroding crucial economic and strategic partnerships. “On my list of top 20 things that I would be critical of this administration for is pissing off all of our allies. An America that’s not a good friend or partner or ally to Europe, to Japan, is a weak America.”
Raimondo urged a recalibration of US diplomacy, emphasising that effective global engagement requires strong alliances, not unilateralism. “I don’t think we can be effective without strong relationships with Europe or much of Southeast Asia,” she added. “And I wish that we would have much stronger commercial relationships with Europe. I think we’re making a big mistake with India.”
Her remarks come at a time when India and the US are "very near" to concluding their proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), as both sides are converging on most issues and working on the legal language of the pact.
The two sides are finding common ground on pending matters, the official added, ruling out the emergence of any new issues for now.
"We are very near as far as the deal is concerned. We are converging on most of the issues... As of now, no major gaps are being seen," the official said, adding that few differences remain to be resolved.
However, uncertainty about the 50% tariffs persists. Effective August, the US imposed 50% tariffs on India, half of which are penal tariffs for purchasing Russian energy. India's goods exports to the US fell 12% year-on-year in September, while the country's total exports rose 6.74%.
"Talks are progressing well... we are negotiating very positively, finding some common ground on pending issues," the official said.
Certain issues related to non-tariff barriers are yet to be resolved, according to the official.
New Delhi is also hopeful that tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act will be addressed under the trade deal. Under this provision, Washington has imposed separate levies on a range of imports, including automobiles, auto parts, steel, and aluminium.
Speaking at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, Raimondo said, “We’re making a big mistake with India. The Trump administration has pissed off all our allies. America First is one thing. America Alone is a disastrous policy."
She also said that US current posture risks eroding crucial economic and strategic partnerships. “On my list of top 20 things that I would be critical of this administration for is pissing off all of our allies. An America that’s not a good friend or partner or ally to Europe, to Japan, is a weak America.”
Raimondo urged a recalibration of US diplomacy, emphasising that effective global engagement requires strong alliances, not unilateralism. “I don’t think we can be effective without strong relationships with Europe or much of Southeast Asia,” she added. “And I wish that we would have much stronger commercial relationships with Europe. I think we’re making a big mistake with India.”
Her remarks come at a time when India and the US are "very near" to concluding their proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), as both sides are converging on most issues and working on the legal language of the pact.
The two sides are finding common ground on pending matters, the official added, ruling out the emergence of any new issues for now.
"We are very near as far as the deal is concerned. We are converging on most of the issues... As of now, no major gaps are being seen," the official said, adding that few differences remain to be resolved.
However, uncertainty about the 50% tariffs persists. Effective August, the US imposed 50% tariffs on India, half of which are penal tariffs for purchasing Russian energy. India's goods exports to the US fell 12% year-on-year in September, while the country's total exports rose 6.74%.
"Talks are progressing well... we are negotiating very positively, finding some common ground on pending issues," the official said.
Certain issues related to non-tariff barriers are yet to be resolved, according to the official.
New Delhi is also hopeful that tariffs imposed under Section 232 of the US Trade Expansion Act will be addressed under the trade deal. Under this provision, Washington has imposed separate levies on a range of imports, including automobiles, auto parts, steel, and aluminium.
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