{"id":31972,"date":"2025-08-30T01:39:12","date_gmt":"2025-08-30T01:39:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/31972\/"},"modified":"2025-08-30T01:39:12","modified_gmt":"2025-08-30T01:39:12","slug":"economist-explains-why-us-pressure-wont-work","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/31972\/","title":{"rendered":"Economist explains why US pressure won\u2019t work"},"content":{"rendered":"

A<\/strong>merican economist Richard Wolff has criticised Washington\u2019s latest trade move against India, arguing that the United States is only damaging its own interests while giving fresh momentum to the BRICS bloc.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe United States telling India what to do is like a mouse hitting his fist to an elephant,\u201d Wolff remarked, pointing out that India has now been recognised by the United Nations as the world\u2019s largest country.<\/p>\n

What triggered the dispute?<\/strong><\/p>\n

From Wednesday, 50 percent tariffs came into force on a wide range of Indian goods, effectively doubling the previous duty. Former US President Donald Trump introduced the measure in a bid to penalise New Delhi for continuing to buy Russian oil, a critical revenue source for Moscow\u2019s war in Ukraine.<\/p>\n

Trump, who has consistently pressured India over its energy dealings, described the policy as part of his wider campaign to end the conflict.<\/p>\n

Will India simply look elsewhere?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Speaking in an interview with Russia Today, Wolff predicted that India would quickly redirect its exports if the American market was closed.<\/p>\n

He explained,\u00a0\u201cBut like Russia found another place to buy its, to sell its energy, India will sell its exports no longer to the United States, but to the rest of the BRICS.\u201d<\/p>\n

The BRICS grouping currently includes ten members: Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa, Egypt, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Iran and the United Arab Emirates. The bloc seeks to counterbalance Western financial power and is exploring mechanisms to reduce reliance on the US dollar.<\/p>\n

How strong is BRICS compared to the West?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wolff underlined the economic weight of the bloc in his comments. \u201cIf you take China, India, Russia and the BRICS, the total share of world output those countries produce is 35 percent. The G7 is down to about 28 percent,\u201d he said during the podcast.<\/p>\n

Could US tariffs backfire?<\/strong><\/p>\n

According to Wolff, Trump\u2019s strategy risks speeding up BRICS integration.<\/p>\n

He argued,\u00a0\u201cAnd what you\u2019re doing is your hothouse fashion, developing the BRICS to be an ever larger, more integrated and successful economic alternative to the West. We are watching a historic moment.\u201d<\/p>\n

How has Trump responded to BRICS?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Despite the bloc\u2019s growing presence, Trump has repeatedly dismissed it, calling BRICS a \u201clittle group\u201d that is \u201cfading out fast\u201d.<\/p>\n

In February, he even declared \u201cBRICS is dead\u201d and warned that if the members pursued a common currency, he would consider 100 per cent tariffs.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey can go find another sucker Nation,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Why is India different?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wolff reminded that India has historically maintained a complex relationship with both Washington and Moscow. \u201cIndia has a long standing relationship with the US since the Soviet era,\u201d he said, cautioning, \u201cYou are playing with a very different adversary.\u201d<\/p>\n

He concluded with a sharp remark on American policy: \u201cBut for those with some humour, it will be the spectacle of the United States acting like it\u2019s the world\u2019s tough guy, as what it actually does is shoot itself in the foot.\u201d<\/p>\n

New Delhi has strongly criticised Washington\u2019s move, describing the tariff hike as \u201cunfair, unjustified and unreasonable.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"google<\/a> <\/a><\/a>Subscribe to our NewsletterGet Latest Mathrubhumi Updates in EnglishFollow<\/a><\/p>\n

Disclaimer: Kindly avoid objectionable, derogatory, unlawful and lewd comments, while responding to reports. Such comments are punishable under cyber laws. Please keep away from personal attacks. The opinions expressed here are the personal opinions of readers and not that of Mathrubhumi.<\/p>\n

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