India - US Tariff and Relations | News + Updates

[Owaiz]

Great insights.

Notice how confused the Indian origin interviewer is by all this advanced level business speak from the Jewish guy.

Indians, particularly Gujjis and Funjabis who supposedly lead the way in business acumen among all Indians, are not actually as naturally inclined to engage in international business negotiations as they might like to think, partly because they lack the etiquette and professionalism to do so.

Fundamentally, when we mock Gujjis and Funjabis as being representative of a "baniya qom", they assume this is a compliment, even a backhanded one, when in reality, the "tradesmanship" we refer to is that of a street hawker, a simple barterer. The chief tea seller himself is a prime example of this mentality. He genuinely thought delaying any deal would make Trump come crawling back to him.

Hindustan's only real option now is to keep "bartering" from its delusional position of perceived leverage over USA, but it has deceived only itself. The longer it waits, the worse the terms will be for India. Basic street hawker mentality on display even in Anarkali bazaar.

Dont broadcast your utter ignorance. Chamath is not Indian-origin. He is a Sinhala Sri Lankan. He is a well known shyster and political chameleon who has defrauded retails investors of billions of dollars, and he is a lot more sophisticated in financial scamming than Howard Lutnick, who got rich because he was at the right place at the right time.

 

[Vkdindian1]

Have you not reduced Russian oil imports have you not purchased more American energy

Reducing purchases of Russian oil while increasing energy imports from the United States may be uncomfortable politically, but it is a rational strategic recalibration rather than capitulation. You want to know how many billions India has made through Russian oil purchase? Well more than the multiples of many neighbouring economies.

The reality of trade deal can’t be ignored either. US imposed the additional tariffs in last Aug end. Since then, India has imported billions worth of oil and taken its sweet time to reduce the purchase of Russian oil. To the extent that US decided to bring a bill to allow Trump to impose 500% additional tariffs. I didn’t see any hurry as being indicated by many posters in regard to India.

Secondly, the move reflects realism about the future energy order. As financial systems, shipping insurance, and settlement mechanisms increasingly align with US frameworks, ensuring secure access to compliant energy sources safeguards India’s economic momentum.

In essence, the decision is not about pleasing the US, it is about insulating India’s long term interests in an unstable, sanction-heavy global environment. With US controlling Venezuelan oil, it would be a good move to align again with US to gain access to that oil.

There is no love for anyone. Affordable energy security is what made India to go to Russia and it is the same thing that would make it stop. Strategic autonomy is not about rigidity; it is about having options when pressure mounts.

The trade deal is yet to be signed and India is yet to allow farm access to US. So it is not capitulation.

 

[Vkdindian1]

You have just misread the world, I think it's that simple.

You have overdone it on your economy believing it's the answer to everything, even all your generals talk about is economy economy economy, missing the boat on military realities and geopolitical flux.

Okay India has somewhat of a market, it's not that much of a game changer though taking into account all the factors it is not that decisive

Trump has seized Venezuelan oil, will probably take Greenland and all of the enormous wealth that has, and tariffs are in place as well as favorable trade deals with other nations, each of these diminishes India's economic importance anyway

India has not “overdone” its focus on the economy; it has correctly recognised that sustained military power, technological depth, and strategic autonomy are built on economic capacity. Every serious military power—from the US to China—treats economic strength as a foundational pillar, not a distraction. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand how modern power actually functions.

The claim that India’s market is “not decisive” ignores basic geopolitical reality. India is not important because it is the market, but because it is one of the few large, growing, relatively stable markets outside the Western bloc and China. That is precisely why supply chains, defence partnerships, and technology collaborations are diversifying toward it. Strategic relevance is about optionality and leverage, not monopoly.

As far as Venezuelan oil goes, I am pretty sure that India would be one of the big importers of that oil. Indian refineries are few in the world that can refine that oil easily. Please don’t blame India for deftness, when that happens.

 

[Thinking]

You have just misread the world, I think it's that simple.

You have overdone it on your economy believing it's the answer to everything, even all your generals talk about is economy economy economy, missing the boat on military realities and geopolitical flux.

Okay India has somewhat of a market, it's not that much of a game changer though taking into account all the factors it is not that decisive

Trump has seized Venezuelan oil, will probably take Greenland and all of the enormous wealth that has, and tariffs are in place as well as favorable trade deals with other nations, each of these diminishes India's economic importance anyway

Given option between economy or military, we would pick economy. A country with no economy but a "great" military is North Korea. Ofcourse we would prefer both but just being a "buddy" and "buying" never amounts to much. I am certain, with increased wealth, tech will grow in India too. So many small companies doing work which we never touched in decades.

We get it, India is meh. But, that is our concern, right? We are still managing that meh better than many.

"Geopolitics" without money is just hot air.

 

[Thinking]

India has not “overdone” its focus on the economy; it has correctly recognised that sustained military power, technological depth, and strategic autonomy are built on economic capacity. Every serious military power—from the US to China—treats economic strength as a foundational pillar, not a distraction. To suggest otherwise is to misunderstand how modern power actually functions.

The claim that India’s market is “not decisive” ignores basic geopolitical reality. India is not important because it is the market, but because it is one of the few large, growing, relatively stable markets outside the Western bloc and China. That is precisely why supply chains, defence partnerships, and technology collaborations are diversifying toward it. Strategic relevance is about optionality and leverage, not monopoly.

As far as Venezuelan oil goes, I am pretty sure that India would be one of the big importers of that oil. Indian refineries are few in the world that can refine that oil easily. Please don’t blame India for deftness, when that happens.

Truth of oil is that China is moving to green and so is India somewhat. No matter who sells oil, it will never reach the height it used to. All "vendors" are equally valid. India would happily buy Venezuelan oil.

 

[r3alist]

Given option between economy or military, we would pick economy. A country with no economy but a "great" military is North Korea. Ofcourse we would prefer both but just being a "buddy" and "buying" never amounts to much. I am certain, with increased wealth, tech will grow in India too. So many small companies doing work which we never touched in decades.

We get it, India is meh. But, that is our concern, right? We are still managing that meh better than many.

"Geopolitics" without money is just hot air.

I don't think you can afford to be lacking in any one area when you are a country of a certain size, this is a fundamentally flawed view of how the world works. Especially now as more and more might is right.
In terms of a nation state, your military is the front line to protect and potentially grow your economic growth in many ways.

If you look at Turkey for example, they are combining the two to gain influence and heft.

Don't you remember the days when we would often hear how indispensable India is, well clearly there is a miscalculation

 

[r3alist]

India has not “overdone” its focus on the economy; it has correctly recognised that sustained military power, technological depth, and strategic autonomy are built on economic capacity.

Okay, so it has underperformed in its military positioning and capabilities, because after all you have the money but you do not have the posture or the capabilities. The point being, you cannot for too long afford to not keep up with your peers, in that sense your approach is insisting on delusion because what matters is your peer Nations

That is precisely why supply chains, defence partnerships, and technology collaborations are diversifying toward it.

I think trump might have something to say about that as well as China, maybe if you ask nicely

I am pretty sure that India would be one of the big importers of that oil

Which would fill up the coffers of American companies

 

[r3alist]

In essence, the decision is not about pleasing the US, it is about insulating India’s long term interests

You are only doing it because America is insisting that you do it. Otherwise you would continue to enjoy the cheap Russian oil

 

[Master Chief]

Dont broadcast your utter ignorance. Chamath is not Indian-origin. He is a Sinhala Sri Lankan. He is a well known shyster and political chameleon who has defrauded retails investors of billions of dollars, and he is a lot more sophisticated in financial scamming than Howard Lutnick, who got rich because he was at the right place at the right time.

Irrelevant details.

Frankly I'm not even sure if the other guy is actually Jewish. All I see is a shocked and amateurish interviewer asking dumb questions and trying to figure out some "mystery" on behalf of India and a serious professional laying down the rules of international geo-economics for India to consider.

Your obfuscation is noteworthy, if wholly predictable.

 

[Vkdindian1]

so it has underperformed in its military positioning and capabilities,

Now, that would start a chest thumping fest. I just want to say that I disagree with this assessment. I have said enough on the relevant thread. I suggest to keep it at that and discuss it on the relevant thread if you are too keen.

I think trump might have something to say about that as well as China, maybe if you ask nicely

Then leave that to us. We will ask when we have to and in a manner we deem fit.

Which would fill up the coffers of American companies

India has no issues with that. Anyone offering us energy at competitive prices would get our dollars. If that makes US happy, then it is even better.

You are only doing it because America is insisting that you do it. Otherwise you would continue to enjoy the cheap Russian oil

Yes. Bang on. Could India have bought Russian oil without US consent? No. India had to stop import of Iranian and Venezuelan oil due to US restrictions. I never said that India is immune to the current world order.

We neither have the economic heft of China to completely defy the US, nor do we have rare earth materials to do what China can.
But the manner of going about taking these decisions, does say a lot. And that is not capitulation but a pace that is forcing Trump’s lackeys to bark every day with new threats.

Many other nations would have folded twice by now.

 

[Master Chief]

Given option between economy or military, we would pick economy. A country with no economy but a "great" military is North Korea. Ofcourse we would prefer both but just being a "buddy" and "buying" never amounts to much. I am certain, with increased wealth, tech will grow in India too. So many small companies doing work which we never touched in decades.

We get it, India is meh. But, that is our concern, right? We are still managing that meh better than many.

"Geopolitics" without money is just hot air.

Money without geopolitics = "can I please see you Saar?"

 

[Thinking]

I don't think you can afford to be lacking in any one area when you are a country of a certain size, this is a fundamentally flawed view of how the world works. Especially now as more and more might is right.
In terms of a nation state, your military is the front line to protect and potentially grow your economic growth in many ways.

If you look at Turkey for example, they are combining the two to gain influence and heft.

Don't you remember the days when we would often hear how indispensable India is, well clearly there is a miscalculation

It would be idiotic to compare India to Turkey. What was Turkey 20 years ago? It still is nothing but what it is not is "poor". Poor countries don't become "military" power unless they are banana republic. Money is needed to build roads, do research and build ....everything.

If we ignore China, we can defend against Pakistan, even today. So I won't lose sleep over "defense". But increasing wealth would be first priority since wealth is what creates science, tech and power.

I don't know what "indispensable" even means in geopolitics but only thing "indispensable" is one's own power. India is still kicking, it is still receiving plenty of investment, and thanks precisely to these "tariffs", government is doing reforms they should have done 10 years ago. We had zero ecosystem of private engineering which is now fully alive and I only see great things in future. This is only calculation that matters to me. Not being the "best friend" of some country or worrying about some guy who will likely die before he even eaves office is not our concerned. India faced similar sh..t from Canada only few years ago and it was all 180 degree in 2 years.

 

[Thinking]

Money without geopolitics = "can I please see you Saar?"

Nah, our generals don't do that!

 

[Master Chief]

Nah, our generals don't do that!

True. Some would argue they don't even do what they're paid to do, but that's for a different thread.

 

[Thinking]

Now, that would start a chest thumping fest. I just want to say that I disagree with this assessment. I have said enough on the relevant thread. I suggest to keep it at that and discuss it on the relevant thread if you are too keen.


Then leave that to us. We will ask when we have to and in a manner we deem fit.



India has no issues with that. Anyone offering us energy at competitive prices would get our dollars. If that makes US happy, then it is even better.


Yes. Bang on. Could India have bought Russian oil without US consent? No. India had to stop import of Iranian and Venezuelan oil due to US restrictions. I never said that India is immune to the current world order.

We neither have the economic heft of China to completely defy the US, nor do we have rare earth materials to do what China can.
But the manner of going about taking these decisions, does say a lot. And that is not capitulation but a pace that is forcing Trump’s lackeys to bark every day with new threats.

Many other nations would have folded twice by now.

Oh, we didn't stop buying Russian oil because America tariffed us. That didn't work at all! We only reduced Russian purchase once Russian companies were sanctioned directly. We are still buying all the Russian oil we could through not tariffed companies.

Hell, even China had to reduce oil purchase or go "dark" after that. But I guess China also capitulated, right?