- The whole world has witnessed how the increasingly petulant, maverick, and impetuous Donald Trump’s new administration has imposed itself on the global community with such impunity. The widespread disruptions caused by the tariff moves of Trump have not only singed the established global order but also have had a cascading ripple effect everywhere, leading to countervailing tariff measures from a country like China. Mind you, China is not going to be easily bullied by the USA, since the days of the unipolar world are behind us. As the global world order witnesses multipolarity, no single country can lay claim to wield enough traction or heft to browbeat others. In the altered geostrategic and geopolitical scenario, every country would play a protectionist.
PC: Times of India
- As reported extensively, Trump went ballistic with his tariff moves, even on a strategic ally like India, by imposing a 50% tariff. And the diatribe by Trump and his officials towards India has been acerbic and downright condescending. Amid all this, the Indian response has been steady, concise, and without taking umbrage to further vitiate the already unpleasant situation between the two largest democracies. Yes, trade talks were stalled, and no agreement could be reached, leading to the imposition of the illogical tariff. Welcomingly, there appears to be a thaw in the way the USA, led by the President, has made overtures in the last few days signaling intent to move ahead. A cautious welcome from the Indian think tank is par for the course move for sure.
PC: Zee News – India.Com
- Agreed, trade talks are most welcome, but the US trying to arm-twist New Delhi into buying its corn is not. The ink on a US-India trade deal would have dried weeks ago had Trump not derailed negotiations on the pretext of Russian oil. But it seems he has seen the light. His rhetoric has softened, US trade rep Brendan Lynch has paid a visit, and while the Indian side made it clear that the recent meeting with Lynch was not an official round of negotiation, Trump’s man certainly wasn’t here to shoot the breeze. Ambassador-designate Sergio Gor has also said a deal is imminent. So, now that we are back at the table, it’s worth remembering that Russian oil is only a red herring weaponized for leverage. The US side’s goal remains what it has been since May.
PC: Moneycontrol
- Getting India to lower tariffs on farm imports. US Commerce Secretary’s latest grievance – Why won’t 1.4bn people buy one bushel of US corn? They sell everything to us, and they won’t buy our corn – this should dispel all doubts about US intent. Corn is a very big deal in Trump-voting states. The US produces more than 30% of corn worldwide, but not as food. More than a third of it is turned into ethanol for fuelling cars, around 40% is used as livestock feed, a tiny percentage – 1.5% – goes into breakfast cereals, and about 18% is exported. But with China cutting back on US corn, there’s a glut. That’s why US officials desperately want to palm off some of their surplus to India. Trump couldn’t arm-twist India with Russian oil; don’t start again with corn.
