India criticizes US trade policy as midterm vote approaches

Indian officials have abandoned their traditional practice of quiet diplomacy and are now openly criticizing the White House. This shift comes as US President Donald Trump prepares for the midterm elections in November, a vote that could reshape Congress and his legislative power.

The tension centers on a trade deal that has stalled and a new tariff law. Last month, Trump signed legislation allowing the US to impose tariffs of up to 100 percent on countries that purchase Russian oil. India faces these high rates because it continues to buy Russian crude. To keep energy prices low before the election, Trump paused the law, but he did not repeal it.

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman described the current state of negotiations as a plateau where giving or taking is very difficult. India is among the countries most affected by the administration's tariff regime. The US Supreme Court struck down earlier sweeping tariffs in February, leading the administration to rely on a new 10 percent global tariff and the new oil-related measures.

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar broke from the norm when he spoke in New York last month. He called the US an insensitive partner on terrorism issues and accused the administration of pursuing self-centered trade policies that hurt the Global South. He stated that countries should not make decisions in isolation and then claim they did not intend to make life difficult for partners.

The friction extends beyond economics. The Make America Great Again movement has targeted Indian Americans, using rhetoric about H-1B visas and job competition. Early in Trump's second term, the administration deported many undocumented Indian immigrants while they were shackled in chains, a visual that caused outrage in New Delhi. Analysts note that this rhetoric has struck a nerve, even as the Indian government has shown restraint in its official responses.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio visited Mumbai this week but skipped New Delhi. In an interview with The Indian Express, he said the tariffs are not meant to punish India. He argued that the Russia-Ukraine war complicates foreign policy and that Trump paused the oil tariffs to protect the US-India relationship. However, Rubio suggested similar measures could return if the administration feels it needs to balance its interests.

Praveen Donthi of the International Crisis Group said the bipartisan consensus on India in Washington has ended. He noted that the measures taken by the Trump administration have brought back distrust of the US among the Indian strategic establishment, echoing tensions from the Cold War era when New Delhi leaned toward Moscow.

Michael Kugelman, a Washington-based analyst, doubts that the midterm results will change Trump's approach to India. He pointed out that Trump is in the final era of his presidency and cannot run for a third term. Kugelman expects Trump to pursue policies he believes advance US economic interests, even if that means threatening additional tariffs.

Milan Vaishnav of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace believes a chastened Trump would be in India's interest. He noted that many Democrats and some Republicans on Capitol Hill are frustrated with the current handling of US-India ties and believe in a strong partnership. A Democrat-dominated Congress could moderate Washington's foreign policy, according to Vaishnav.

Two years ago, shortly after Trump won the 2024 election, Jaishankar said India was not nervous about the US. Today, that confidence has faded as New Delhi watches the November vote and the state of its relationship with Washington.