Trump’s Commerce Secy Says India, Brazil Must ‘React Correctly’ To US: ‘Need To Fix Some Countries’

US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick speaks while standing next to US President Donald Trump, as a “Trump Gold Card” sign is displayed, in the Oval Office at the White House in Washington, DC, US. (IMAGE: REUTERS)

US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Saturday said that countries like India and Brazil “need to react correctly to America” and open their markets for American goods.

“There are some countries we need to fix – like India and Brazil. These countries need to react correctly to America,” he said.

Lutnick’s comments come as US tries to negotiate a trade deal with India after imposing 50% tariffs on Indian exports to the US.

Brazil is also locked in on a trade war with the US.

Trump intensified trade tensions with Brazil by imposing a 50% tariff on all Brazilian imports in August. This move escalated a diplomatic crisis between the two nations, with Trump citing Brazil’s treatment of former President Jair Bolsonaro as a “witch hunt” and alleging that Brazil’s actions threaten US national security.

In response, Brazil filed a formal complaint with the World Trade Organization and announced reciprocal tariffs on U.S. goods. President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva condemned the US tariffs as “unacceptable blackmail” and declined to engage in negotiations, stating he would not “humiliate” himself by doing so.

A fortnight ago the US commerce secretary had warned that not following Donald Trump’s trade model will lead to a tough time when it comes to trade with the US.

“That’s the president’s model, and you either accept it or you’re going to have a tough time doing business with the world’s greatest consumer,” he had said.

He had also questioned why India does not buy US agri products.

“India brags that they have 1.4 billion people. Why won’t 1.4 billion people buy one bushel of US corn? Doesn’t that rub you the wrong way that they sell everything to us and they won’t buy our corn. They put tariffs on everything,” he had said during an interview with American media.

The Trump administration has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India, including 25 per cent for Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, among the highest imposed on any country in the world.

India has described the US action as unfair, unjustified and unreasonable.

Defending its purchase of Russian crude oil, India has been maintaining that its energy procurement is driven by national interest and market dynamics.