Ex-US Security Advisor Warns Trump’s Trade Tariffs Pushing India Toward China: ‘American Brand In Toilet’

<p>Former US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan has strongly criticised President Donald Trump&rsquo;s decision to impose sweeping tariffs on Indian exports, cautioning that the move could drive New Delhi closer to Beijing. In an interview on<em> The Bulwark Podcast</em> with Tim Miller, Sullivan described Trump&rsquo;s tariff action as a &ldquo;massive trade offensive&rdquo; that has rattled US allies and damaged Washington&rsquo;s credibility abroad.</p>
<h3>’America’s Brand Is In Toilet’: Sullivan</h3>
<p>Sullivan said leaders in several countries now perceive the United States as an unreliable partner and a source of global disruption, while China&rsquo;s diplomatic standing has noticeably improved.</p>
<p>&ldquo;America&rsquo;s brand is in the toilet,&rdquo; Sullivan said, adding that during his recent international engagements, many officials spoke of &ldquo;derisking&rdquo; from the US because of its unpredictability, as per a report on India Today.</p>
<p>Highlighting India as a critical case, Sullivan argued that Trump&rsquo;s tariff hike has weakened years of effort to cultivate a stronger US&ndash;India partnership.&nbsp;He further stated that China had moved ahead of the United States in popularity in many countries, which had not been the case a year earlier. According to him, nations were now essentially saying that the US brand was in decline while China appeared to be acting as a responsible player, reported Hindustan Times.</p>
<h3>Trump’s Tarrif On India</h3>
<p>The criticism comes just days after Washington introduced a 50% duty on Indian goods&mdash;its steepest tariff on any country to date&mdash;effective August 27. Key industries including textiles, jewellery and machinery are expected to be hit hard, raising fears of job losses and economic slowdown in India.</p>
<p>Trump has defended the additional 25% hike as retaliation for India&rsquo;s continued imports of Russian oil. However, analysts and critics caution that the decision may undercut US influence in Asia and strain one of its most important strategic partnerships.</p>
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