Washington: U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has sharply criticized India for its restrictive trade policies, warning that such practices could hinder India’s efforts to secure favorable trade deals and tariff reductions with the United States. In a recent interview, Lutnick said that while India boasts of its 1.4 billion population, it refuses to purchase even small quantities of American corn, which he described as unfair and detrimental to bilateral trade relations.
Responding to a question on whether the U.S. was effectively managing ties with key partners such as India, Canada, and Brazil, Lutnick alleged that India was not engaging fairly in trade. He claimed that while Indian businesses enjoy wide access to U.S. markets, American goods face heavy tariffs and restrictions in India. “India proudly talks about its massive population, but why won’t they buy our corn? Is that fair?” he questioned.
Lutnick added that despite repeated calls from U.S. President Donald Trump for fair and reciprocal trade, India has not changed its approach. Defending the U.S. decision to impose tariffs on Indian products, he said doing business with one of the world’s largest consumer markets will remain challenging unless India opens its markets and ensures fair competition.