U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has intensified criticism of India, describing it as one of several countries the United States “needs to fix” as tensions rise over tariffs, trade access, and energy policy.
In an interview with NewsNation, Lutnick grouped India with Switzerland and Brazil, insisting that these nations must “react correctly to America” by opening their markets and refraining from actions that undermine U.S. economic interests. “They need to open their markets and stop taking actions that harm America,” Lutnick said.
The remarks mark a sharp escalation in Washington’s rhetoric toward New Delhi, particularly after recent disputes over tariffs and India’s surging imports of discounted Russian crude oil. Lutnick has repeatedly labeled India’s trade posture as “bravado,” suggesting that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has so far resisted U.S. pressure, domestic businesses in India will eventually push for a compromise. “It feels good to fight with the biggest client in the world, but eventually your businesses are going to say you’ve got to stop this and go make a deal with America,” he said.
On energy, Lutnick criticized India’s growing purchases of Russian oil following Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, calling the strategy “plain wrong” and “ridiculous.” He pressed New Delhi to clarify “which side it wants to be on,” framing the issue as a test of India’s global alignment.
Reinforcing America’s leverage, Lutnick underscored the scale of the U.S. consumer market. “We are the consumer of the world. People have to remember, it’s our $30 trillion economy that is the consumer of the world. So eventually they all have to come back to the customer, because we all know eventually the customer is always right,” he said.
The comments highlight the growing friction between Washington and New Delhi over trade barriers, tariffs, and strategic energy choices, adding fresh strain to a bilateral relationship that both governments have previously sought to frame as vital for the future of global economic and security cooperation.