Washington, September 2, 2025 — U.S. foreign-policy scholar John Mearsheimer has strongly criticized former President Donald Trump’s 50% tariffs on India, calling them a “colossal blunder.” The move, part of the ongoing U.S.–India trade war 2025, could damage bilateral relations while doing little to curb India’s Russian oil imports.
Mearsheimer argued that sanctions and Trump tariffs on Indian goods “won’t work with India,” which remains committed to energy security and long-term supply deals with Moscow. He warned that such punitive measures may push India closer to Russia and China, undermining U.S. efforts in the Indo-Pacific strategy.
Reports suggest that Donald Trump tried to contact Prime Minister Narendra Modi several times, but Modi has not responded — a sign of deteriorating U.S.–India relations. Analysts say the tariffs risk weakening cooperation in areas such as defense, technology, and climate change, while strengthening India–Russia trade ties.
Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed that India and the United States are in trade negotiations despite the new tariffs. He stressed that India–U.S. trade talks continue, with both sides exploring options to protect India’s exports to the U.S. while maintaining national interests.
Observers note that India offered to cut tariffs on U.S. goods to zero, but Trump rejected the proposal as “too little, too late.” Experts warn this could further escalate the U.S.–India tariff dispute, disrupting global supply chains in pharmaceuticals, electronics, and IT services.
For businesses, the Trump 50% tariff on India threatens to raise costs on key exports like textiles, auto parts, and chemicals. Experts also caution that India may consider retaliatory tariffs on U.S. imports, adding more pressure to an already fragile India–U.S. trade relationship.
Geopolitically, the standoff could weaken Quad cooperation between India, the U.S., Japan, and Australia. Strategic analysts argue that prolonged U.S.–India trade tensions could slow defense collaboration and increase China’s influence in Asia, a major concern for Washington’s long-term security goals.
Unless talks result in a phased tariff rollback tied to market access for U.S. companies in India, experts predict a prolonged trade standoff. This U.S.–India diplomatic crisis may reshape not only bilateral ties but also the global balance of power in Asia.
