‘It’s All Bravado, India Will Say Sorry’: US Commerce Secretary Predicts New Delhi Will Bend to Trump’s Tariffs
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has issued a stark prediction that India’s current defiance over trade will crumble, forecasting that New Delhi will come to the negotiating table “saying they’re sorry” within a couple of months .
In a sharp escalation of rhetoric, Lutnick dismissed India’s tough stance as “all bravado,” arguing that the nation cannot afford to antagonize its biggest customer, the United States . He warned that India must choose between aligning with the US or deepening its ties with Russia and China through the BRICS bloc, a decision that could trigger steep 50% tariffs on Indian exports .
Lutnick’s comments zeroed in on India’s increased purchases of discounted Russian oil, which he termed “just plain wrong” . “Before the Russian conflict, India bought less than 2% of its oil from Russia. Now it’s 40% because it’s cheap, sanctioned oil,” he stated, urging New Delhi to halt the practice and support the US dollar . Emphasizing America’s economic leverage, Lutnick was blunt: “We are the consumer of the world. It’s our $30 trillion economy. Eventually, the customer is always right” .
Drawing a parallel with Canada’s previous trade dispute with Washington, Lutnick argued that retaliatory measures by smaller economies are ultimately self-defeating . He asserted that business interests within India will eventually pressure the government to seek a deal with the Trump administration .
“I think, yes, in a month or two months, 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 predicted, adding that the final decision would rest with the President .
The Commerce Secretary’s hardline stance echoes a recent social media post from President Trump, who lamented that the US had “lost” India and Russia to China . Lutnick’s remarks signal a hardening US position, placing the onus entirely on India to de-escalate the trade conflict by making significant concessions on its foreign and economic policies .
