Washington/New Delhi: US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose additional tariffs on India has triggered opposition at home and abroad. American economist Richard Wolff sharply criticized the move, saying the US is acting against India simply to prove toughness while undermining its own long-term interests. He noted that Washington is unable to accept BRICS emerging as an alternative to Western economies and warned that such actions could backfire.
Wolff argued that India, one of the world’s largest economies, will find new markets if US trade restrictions persist. Citing Russia’s example of diversifying exports, he said India will increasingly turn to BRICS partners and other regions. He pointed out that BRICS nations now account for 35% of global output compared to the G7’s 28%, making Washington’s tariff policy “short-sighted.” Wolff further stressed that New Delhi has historically shared deep ties with Washington, and damaging that relationship would be unwise.
Economist RIchard Wolff tells RT that America is "hothousing" BRICS with its aggressive tariff threats.
"If you shut off the US to India by big tariffs, it will have to find new places to sell its exports.
Just like Russia found new markets, India will sell its exports not to… pic.twitter.com/xEO4lGp0zS
— Margarita Simonyan (@M_Simonyan) August 28, 2025
Indian officials, meanwhile, sought to play down the tariff impact. Government sources said exporters need not panic, as efforts are underway to expand shipments to the Middle East, China, and other markets. They also confirmed that dialogue channels with the US remain open to resolve the trade dispute. Authorities assured that necessary measures are being put in place, describing the tariffs as a temporary hurdle in Indo-US relations rather than a long-term disruption.