The public sentiment towards US-India trade relations is predominantly negative, characterized by distrust towards the US, particularly under Trump's administration. Many commenters express frustration over the perceived disrespect and coercive nature of US tariffs, advocating for India's autonomy and resilience. The sentiment spans concerns about India's sovereignty, speculation about compromises with China, and a strong desire for India to prioritize its domestic interests and strengthen ties with other nations. A pervasive call for self-reliance and a rejection of US interference is evident in the comments, reflecting a belief that India can withstand external pressures while maintaining its dignity and strategic position in global trade.

United States

India

China

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AutoModerator

What about Software exports like Google, facebook, whatsapp. Why are they not counted.

Tacama

All major rating agencies like Moody's, barkley, fitch, s&amp;p foresee impact of about 0.2-0.3 pp on Indian GDP growth by this.

Sun1385In

Does this include IT &amp; software exports? We have many IT companies that have many US customers whom we charge in USD. Any idea? I believe that number may be more than this.

Any_Contribution_238

So, china exported 428 billion worth of goods.

80 billion isn't "more than any other country.'

LateScientist6316

I'm not an economist but can someone tell me what will we lose if we Boycott USA completely?

iceinmyveinsIguess

What is everything else ? Can anybody explain

ehmotherfuckers

This chart really shows how important the U.S. is for Indian exports—nearly $80 billion worth. If Trump goes ahead with a 25% tariff, it's not just numbers on paper. It could hit millions of Indian jobs and small businesses that depend on U.S. markets. Sure, the trade balance favors India, and that’s why we’re in the spotlight. But let’s be real if tariffs go up, U.S. consumers will feel it too. Things like affordable medicines, jewellery, and electronics from India won’t come cheap anymore. In the end, both sides lose if politics gets in the way of smart diplomacy

spirit101_gg

Thanks for the info. We should do more trade with every country in the world. More exports and less imports would be better.

Rus1996

Now compare it to russia..where they don't buy anything from us..still we put them on a pedestal

Accomplished-Rip5200

Why the f countries import and export same things

[deleted]

I would broadly agree with the OP except that Trump has caused a rift with almost everyone. He as antagonised the closest US allies. He has got BRICS to be more relevant and serious discuss reducing their reliance on the dollar and Europe to start thinking of being more independent of the US. This will get India to explore more areas of cooperation with both China and Russia.

Dean_46

There is way too much doomerism wrt India-US in this publication as well as on Foreign Policy, on Stimson Centre and a bunch of others. Mostly because the majority of Indian readers are likely to click on this type of content. Indians are paranoid that they will not become a developed country.

From my perspective it’s good to have such articles. Because as a great man once said - Only the Paranoid Survive.

noobflounder

This provides a brutally realist view of how bad the relationship is and how limited India's future options are. Not very pleasant reading for any Indian or any proponent of the US-India relationship, or even the India-Russia relationship.

&gt;Trump’s return to the White House has complicated each of the assumptions New Delhi held. **Instead of girding itself for great-power competition, the White House is scouring the world for short-term gains. Through that lens, Washington has much more to gain from China than it does from India; the war in Ukraine must end because supporting Ukraine is not worth American taxpayers’ money; and Europe’s problems with Russia are Europe’s problems, not those of the United States.** In such a worldview, India’s geopolitical profile invariably shrinks.

&gt;...

&gt;Washington’s revised approach to great-power competition has not only transformed its own policy toward New Delhi but has also influenced the choices and decisions of other major players—with significant implications for India. **Russia, for instance, has sensed that Trump is far less committed to supporting Ukraine than was Biden, is less interested in the systemic challenge posed by China to the U.S.-led world order, and is reluctant to provide security commitments to allies in Europe and Asia.** As Trump prepares for a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin this week, he seeks to punish India for buying Russian oil—a policy that the United States previously encouraged. With Trump in the White House, Russia has more options and needs India less.

&gt;...

&gt;Indeed, Moscow feels a diminishing obligation to New Delhi and is unwilling to offer more support than it receives, which explains its lukewarm backing during India’s clash with Pakistan in May. Russia’s public statements at the time were vague: they neither mentioned Pakistan by name nor endorsed India’s military reprisals, but simply called for settling disagreements diplomatically. In a sense, Russia echoed India’s own messaging after the 2022 full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Nevertheless, the statements alarmed New Delhi’s Russia watchers, who expected the Kremlin to stand by India, condemn Pakistan, and affirm India’s right to retaliate—much as Israel did in its full-throated support for India. Indian analysts suspect that Russia refrained from doing so because it didn’t want to irritate China, which has become a close strategic partner of Pakistan and provided it with a great deal of new weaponry.

&gt;**Going forward, Russia is likely to prioritize closer ties with China over its declining relationship with India. Sensing victory in Ukraine, Moscow has new priorities: it now seeks partners capable and willing to challenge the United States and Europe, not merely offering commercial relationships.** China can do that, but India is only interested in trade. Russia may therefore be reluctant to support India in any future Indian-Pakistani conflict, owing to China’s ties with Pakistan. If Russian support for India is doubtful during a conflict with Pakistan, it’s safe to assume that Russia will do little to help India in any future conflict with China.

It's also not pleasant reading for anyone who is worried about the long-term fate of the current US-dominated world order.

&gt;**Trump seeks deals with China and Russia, browbeats traditional allies and friends, and seems content to speed the emergence of some kind of G-2 condominium in which the United States and China carve up the world between them.** In such a world, India’s geopolitical importance declines dramatically.

&gt;This is not just India’s plight. The story in Europe and among American treaty allies in Asia is similar. In that shared doubt about the United States, however, lies a potential salve for India’s injured foreign policy. India could strengthen partnerships with European countries and major Asian powers, such as Japan and South Korea, who face their own balancing dilemmas because of the unreliability of the Trump administration.

1-randomonium

A pretty good objective summary.

A transactional US meets with the world. Everybody for themselves. Which isn't a bad thing in the long run: it will just get more volatile.

SubstantialSquash3

India, with the highest tariff rate in Asia, will still be the fastest growing major economy. These massive tariffs will have a paltry affect of hitting growth rates by about 0.2-0.3%. India is also a consumption-driven economy. This explains why such worthless agenda pieces keep sprouting up.

&gt; And yet, paradoxically, India’s response to its current predicament is likely to be, well, more of the same.

Because its the correct path.

Old-Machine-8000

Good article but we are reading too much into it. 

Trump operates like a king in a courtroom. He is tackling the 3 courtiers one by one, punishes India to signal to Russia that he means business when it comes to making peace deal and sends a warning to China that it’s next if peace deal is not reached. In turn both China and India now need to push Russia to make peace else they will suffer.

Empty-Pumpkin7618

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What this discussion misses is that US Exxon was in talks to get back into Russian Sakhalin oil project before the tariffs were imposed on India. The whole Ukraine thing was just a red herring. Trump wants to buy cheap Russian oil and force India to buy expensive US energy. A repeat of what US did to EU.


https://www.eurasiantimes.com/putins-alaska-victory-u-s-energy-giant-exxon/?amp

Prottusha1

When was India ever a solid US ally? They spent the cold war playing neutral and most of their combat systems are Russian at this point. The attempt at assassinating people in the US a few years back isn't the sort of thing i expect out of a strong ally.

Tierbook96

It will be rough for 401ks when all the tech companies have to bail on India and have to pay Americans a livable wage to keep their useless products afloat.

Thick_Piece

How come India is being singled out by US when India isn't even the largest buyer of Russian natural gas or oil? And EU themselves know about India and still source refined oil from India. Why not sanction them? 

Oh right, because it was mutually agreed upon by US,EU when Russia was sanctioned that India can still source from Russia so as to not cripple global oil prices.

Why not sanction China more for that matter since they are even offering material support to Russia? Currently it's at 33% or something right? Even lower than India's? And Navarro isn't exactly calling them out either.

Also didn't Trump himself threaten to withdraw Ukraine support without the mineral deal. And apparently, when Trump met with Putin, an energy deal was also one of the considerations in their talk as also indicated by the secret Exxon talks with Russia.

Rules for thee but not for me?

ryizer

The US (since Clinton’s late 2nd term) have worked hard to move India out of the Russian sphere of influence and closer to them. And for all seemingly
Understandable reasons (democracies, trade, Chinese threat etc). 

However one nonsensical move seems to be undoing all that. Hopefully common sense prevails that one person cannot derail all that hard work, that nations are above non-sensical moves.  

Work has been done to understand the impact of these tariffs (not on petroleum or pharma ). The impact will be on less than 3% of Indian exports globally.

hinterstoisser

India has never been a strong ally. More like alliance of convenience.... Very fairweather with who they will consider interests above Thier immediate interests

One_Put50

This is such an epic fuckup. Keeping India close is probably the most important strategic decision America could make for the next 30 years. Towards the end of that timeframe it will likely overtake the US in GDP.

turb0_encapsulator

Solid Ally? This reporting is questionsable. The US tried to woo India but it definitely played as being 'neutral'. 

  
Not that we've been good to Denmark or Canada mind but the Indians have played a foolish foreign policy built on arrogance despite their weak hand.

Meandering_Cabbage

India wasnt an ally. Its had an ambiguous policy towards all super powers. They tried to please everybody without taking sides. I doubt that will change. There is too much at stake in the long run and the orange man will be gone in 3 years and possibly politically crippled in 1 year.

Yeohan99

Sad part is it is all happening because of Lunatic trump whose agenda is to shove US &amp;it's allies and US led order, and sadly Indians were also big worshippers of him. I remember the time they used sad bad things about Biden while he was the kindest President to them and did understand great deal about India, neither forced them to do anything. Now enjoy!

Itchy_Performance_80

The same India that responded with “it’s just business?” Lol. We’re all doing the same thing by Indian logic. It’s just business my friends.

Impossible-Chip-4637

Attack all they want but EU is reducing (insanely fast) and planning to be off Russian exports in the next couple of years whereas India is ramping up Russian oil trade and taking advantage of cheap imports to the detriment of Ukraine and Europe. 

They can do that all they want but the West can also sanction and tariff them all they want too.

Now the question is, will they trade with an economy the size of Italy and  start to loose much of the West trades or just stop what they are doing with Russia and adhere to the West? 

Money talks in the end.

arknsaw97

I'm all for sanctioning Russian oil and sanctions on those who buy it. It's crazy that Europe is still propping up Putin's war by buying his oil, directly or indirectly. Shameful.

Waste-Industry1958

Eu has reduced trade since the invasion, india has increased.  
That's the truth.

Diligent_Lobster6595

Modi needs to realize that you need to be powerful to be a hypocrite without any consequences.

Normal-Stick6437

&gt;"The countries criticising India are themselves engaged in trade with Russia," India's Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement on Monday evening, adding that "it is unjustified to target India alone".

&gt;It noted that the European Union conducted trade with Russia worth €67.5 billion ($78.02bn) in 2024, including record LNG imports of 16.5 million metric tonnes.

&gt;According to the statement, the US continued to import Russian uranium hexafluoride for use in the nuclear power sector, along with palladium, fertilisers and chemicals, without clarifying the source of this information.

We're doing our best to reduce our dependence and this walnut knows it so why does he make this point?
Can someone from India enlighten us?

Adorable-Database187

The fact that EU is buying 10s of billions of dollars worth of russian oil from India proves how much of a hypocrite it is.

AcanthocephalaEast79

Double standards is when you support [Russia 3 times as much?](https://energyandcleanair.org/wp/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/AD_4nXf-TQfw15W5-lVPII_FvAK0gvZWLsQYbv-pR_Vk-MqN2X7eXK1xWp_Rpi0s-Yvrpe7slGAVS1stlQhMoXKy-VGw3O4Xpq3c-_W94fPzym_L6FnhLaqr0Vf2WlNxppRB-IYuqE1ckiEg0EwO_TNXH2o-1536x683.png)

They need to update their arguments. They are getting old.

M0therN4ture

Forcing emerging economies like India to divert its its source of energy to another more expensive source, at India's expense, is simple bully tactics that  might cause others to want and diversify their economic ties with other countries such as China, who won't weaponize trade.

Ok_Situation_7081

In international diplomacy there is no single or double standard, only national interest.  
  
Is your national interest to get cheap oil or to trade wth the rich West? Is your national interest having allies against China (with which they have border disputes and conflicts) or do they wanna get in the EU situation where your depend on cheap energy provided from (allies of) your potential enemies? Just follow the interest of your nation.

Reddit_User_385

Same acting like russia „We didn’t do enything wrong and all attack us”
Oh poor innocent Indians buying at least 30% of russia resources then mix it and sell to others. To be honest you don’t know exactly how much becouse of Russian fleet of shadows but they will never agree. 
Many components of Russian drones also is made by Indians so Modi stfu and dont act India is innocent. 

Double standards becouse in same time when poor Modi say that India support Ukraine also they are doing business with Russian

Time_Conference_9930

EU likes to pretend it’s the moral responsibility of everyone to support Ukraine - conveniently sidestepping their own decades old security obsession with Russia. They also cannot make the same demand from China even though China’s trade with Russia dwarfs everyone else. 

But you can’t expect former colonial powers to recognise their own hypocrisy.

"Double Standard" is always America's Standard. You just get it right now!?

Glass_Elevator5360

where the HELL do you want us to buy oil and defense tech from then?! The US wants us to lick Trump's toes, Europe is too slow and reluctant to share technology.

We were gonna buy oil from Iran before the US forced everyone to not buy oil, no one can buy oil from Venezuela cuz duh, US again. If India tries to buy oil from the Saudis, we'd be competing with Europeans, which will DRIVE OIL PRICES even more higher! I'm sure every European here would LOVE that their heating gets even MORE expensive

WHAT THE HELL y'all want us to DO man?

shahipaneer3

I was wondering how the comments would look like and as expected, mental gymnastics on a Olympic level.

BattleShai

There is a double standard but India has a deeper and more comprehensive relationship with Russia, existing since the Cold War

Cookies4weights

These news will now pop up for the next 10 weeks or what?

Nicht_Kunigunde

India will have to realize that fdl might buckle in front of the US but india is an economic joke and if they dont comply it will hurt for them

VegetableRestart

There are no double standards between countries only interests. Therefore India should not accuse others of double standards as the United States and Europe have their own interests just as India has its own. It is purely India’s choice whether to side with the West or with Russia and also temporarily side with your enemy China and start opposing the West alongside Russia and China. There are only two options no option for neutrality either the West or anti-West. Be pragmatic and choose. All actions carry shades of grey karma so decide for yourself and do not blame the US or Europe for acting in their interests. The world is perfectly and beautifully grey.

DisastrousDust9830

India’s economy is pretty well shielded from the US. They just aren’t the same economies. India has way more to gain from cheap Russian oil than it has to gain from a trade relationship with the US. Now if the US were to impose tariffs on outsourced cheap labor, that’s a different story.

Novel-Ground-4815

India's exports to the US are about $130 billion in a $3.9 trillion dollar economy. Trump assumes a level of dependency that doesn't exist.  They have a long history of remaining unaligned, and Modi is a nationalist.  I don't know anything about Indian politics, but can Modi afford to look weak?  Because you know that the moment he caves Trump will start bragging to the world that he kicked Modi's ass.

OldManSand

Trump is the greatest gift from god for India, China, and Russia, now they can really start the multipolar world order they've been planning.

fufa_fafu

As an Indian American who is pro US before pro India. Trump might actually be retarded. By far the dumbest president in American history surrounded by a pedo normalizing Republican yes man party.

Repulsive_Race7314

This tariff dictator needs to be 🥊 this time. Russian oil is just an excuse there are multiple things behind. US is openly supporting terrorists against India now.

buntybunty384

Tarrifs are a tax on the US importer based in the states, Donnie doesn't understand why its not working when its not the exporter getting hit.

Foe117

Trump is a moron. India’s weakness is not in physical product exports to the US, but in outsourced US services. This does not show as deficits, but its impact on the US labor market is arguably far more severe than manufacturing.

areyouentirelysure

India will not and should not flinch….India can take on the economic pressure as the nation has survived England ruthless colonialism…for centuries. This is nothing. 
Trump and its acolytes seem to think this is the 19th century….good luck.

Efficient_Resist_287

The only way to have India respond is to put a hefty fees like 25k per person for the H1 B visas. But US does not produce enough STEM students to keep the tech companies humming.

Avocation79

It’s a good thing that the US’s major strategic focus isn’t China.  Or that there aren’t nuances to the ways of the world.  

India buying Russian oil on the cheap, doesn’t help Ukraine, but it helps India exert influence in Asia.  

Affectionate-Act6127

Indian government needs to come out and tell people to boycott American brands like Starbucks, McDonalds, KFC etc… . When these US companies loose access to the fastest growing major economy and largest populated, youngest average age country in the world that is where the rubber meets the road. Then you will see Trump come squealing. Indian people if they have any honor need to switch from these and use Indian equivalent firstly and if not use other non American foreign equivalent products.

Zestyclose-Cream-189

Discussions around US-India trade relations have intensified due to tariffs and geopolitical dynamics involving Indian oil imports from Russia.

US-India Trade Relations

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