Former U.S. President Donald Trump has openly criticized India and Russia, calling them “dead economies.” His remarks came while he confirmed a 25% tariff on Indian exports to the U.S., along with a “penalty” due to India’s growing trade ties with Moscow.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump said, “I don't care what India does with Russia. They can take their dead economies down together, for all I care. We have done very little business with India, their Tariffs are too high, among the highest in the World.”
The former President expressed frustration over India's high trade barriers, claiming they limit American access to Indian markets.
Despite Trump’s comments, India and the U.S. have seen steady growth in trade. In 2024–25, the U.S. remained India’s top trading partner for the fourth year in a row, with total trade worth $131.84 billion.
Indian exports to the U.S. grew by 11.6%, reaching $86.51 billion, up from $77.52 billion the previous year.
Imports from the U.S. also rose by 7.44%, totaling $45.33 billion, compared to $42.2 billion in 2023–24.
India’s trade surplus with the U.S. increased to $41.18 billion, a jump from $35.32 billion.
Beyond commerce, New Delhi and Washington have built strong ties in areas like technology and defense, driven by their mutual aim to counter China’s influence. However, the recent trade tensions have slowed down talks between both sides.
Since April, India and the U.S. have been working towards a possible trade agreement. U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said, “We continue to speak with our Indian counterparts. We've always had very constructive discussions with them.”
However, he noted that India often focuses on “protecting their domestic market.”
India has been resistant to opening up its dairy and farm sectors, citing the need to protect small farmers. But despite the roadblocks, India is still hopeful. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently said that New Delhi remains “optimistic.”
India’s trade with Russia has also grown significantly, especially in the energy sector. Since the war in Ukraine began, Russia’s share in India’s oil imports jumped from 2% to 40% by June 2024. In fact, Russia is now India’s top oil supplier, surpassing even West Asia.
India also works closely with Russia in nuclear energy and continues to rely heavily on Russian defense equipment, including fighter jets, missiles, tanks, and submarines.
