‘Tariffs a mistake’: Bolton urges India-US talks; slams Donald Trump's 'incoherent' approach

Former US national security advisor John Bolton said that the punitive tariffs imposed by the US on India under President Donald Trump have complicated negotiations. He described the US tariff policy on India as a mistake and said the priority should be reaching a deal that lowers tariffs while keeping negotiations open.


"I think the whole tariff policy is a mistake. I think we ought to go back to the way we were before, but leaving that aside, in the time of Trump, in the White House. To get a deal that reduces the tariffs and leaves the way open for further negotiations is the best thing to do," Bolton said in an interview with TOI.


He added that the focus should be on finding common ground on economic tariffs and then building from there.

Bolton criticized the 25 percent US tariffs on India as collateral damage from broader Western sanctions on Russia, which were imposed over Russian oil and gas imports. He called the move “incoherent”, noting that Russia faced no direct tariffs and China, which imports more oil and gas than India, was left unpenalized.

He also noted that India’s historical ties with Russia present challenges but argued for a gradual transition toward cooperation with like-minded partners.

“I think we need to reduce purchases of Russia and oil and gas, and there are ways to do this to help transition India away from that in a way that's economically sound,” he said.

He suggested that both sides should resume talks to reduce tariffs and rebuild trust, emphasizing the importance of personal rapport between leaders in fostering cooperation.

“If the two leaders are now closer to being able to talk about it again that I think is a good sign I hope indicates progress,” he said, adding that a conversation between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi needs to happen.

On broader geopolitical concerns, Bolton highlighted the significance of closer collaboration between India, the US, Japan, and Australia through the Quad, particularly in countering China-Russia strategic alignment.

He also said that he doesn’t think that Israel is committing genocide in the Gaza Strip.

Bolton said Pakistan’s recent statement that Trump had no role in de-escalating tensions after the Kashmir attack highlights that the resolution was handled solely by India and Pakistan.

"I think it's pretty remarkable that they would say that, and certainly, those who know a little bit about India know that from the similar agreements on forward, that's been the position that issues between Pakistan and India will be settled by the two of them. It's an example of how little Trump knows about," Bolton added.

Bolton observed that Trump often seeks credit for international developments, citing the Nobel Peace Prize as a possible motivation.

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