logo
Trump calls India's economy 'dead' – but that makes no sense

Trump calls India's economy 'dead' – but that makes no sense

Time of India5 days ago
Recently, Donald Trump, the former U.S. President, made fun of India's economy by calling it 'dead.' But that's a strange and silly thing to say.
Think about it: An economy is alive as long as people are buying, selling, and trading things — even if it's just one person giving a teabag to a friend in exchange for some biscuits. That's still trade! India has over 1.4 billion people, which means there are tons of trades and businesses happening every second. So how can it be 'dead'?
Also, if India's economy was really dead, why is Trump so eager to sell things like soybeans, corn, and butter to India? You don't trade with something that isn't working. He even spent four months trying to make a trade deal — and only gave up when he got frustrated and added extra taxes (called tariffs) on Indian goods.
India's economy is actually growing faster than any other big country's right now. That's not what a dead economy looks like. Even countries that aren't growing fast — like Japan — are still very much alive and running.
Trump has said strange things before. Once, he told a man his father would be proud 'looking down on him,' thinking the father had passed away. But the man said his dad was still alive. Trump just replied, 'Then he's even more proud!'
So when Trump says 'dead,' it might not mean what you think — or it might not mean anything at all.
Facebook Twitter Linkedin Email Disclaimer
Views expressed above are the author's own.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

ET Graphics: India cuts tariffs, counters 'tariff king' tag
ET Graphics: India cuts tariffs, counters 'tariff king' tag

Economic Times

time12 minutes ago

  • Economic Times

ET Graphics: India cuts tariffs, counters 'tariff king' tag

Synopsis Despite President Trump's accusations of India being a 'tariff king' and the recent imposition of additional duties on Indian goods, data reveals a different story. India has been consistently reducing both tariff and non-tariff barriers. Interestingly, the targeted tariff cuts implemented by India in January are expected to benefit the United States the most, undermining Trump's claims. iStock

NATO chief, leaders of UK, Germany, Finland took part in Zelensky-Trump call: Ukrainian source
NATO chief, leaders of UK, Germany, Finland took part in Zelensky-Trump call: Ukrainian source

New Indian Express

time14 minutes ago

  • New Indian Express

NATO chief, leaders of UK, Germany, Finland took part in Zelensky-Trump call: Ukrainian source

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte and the leaders of Britain, Germany and Finland took part in a phone call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump, a senior Ukrainian source told AFP on Wednesday. Trump spoke with Zelensky after his special envoy Steve Witkoff travelled to Moscow for talks with President Vladimir Putin earlier in the day. The source told AFP that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Finnish President Alexander Stubb participated in the call alongside Rutte. Putin held talks with Witkoff in Moscow on Wednesday, days before the White House's deadline for Russia to reach a peace deal with Ukraine or potentially face severe economic penalties that could also hit countries buying its oil. Trump has expressed increasing frustration with Putin over Russia's escalating strikes on civilian areas of Ukraine, intended to erode morale and public appetite for the war. The intensified attacks have occurred even as Trump has urged the Russian leader in recent months to relent. Overnight from Tuesday to Wednesday, Russian forces hit a recreational center in Ukraine's southern Zaporizhzhia region, killing two people and injuring 12, including two children, regional Gov. Ivan Fedorov said Wednesday.

Trump doubles tariffs on India to 50%, but offers 21 days window for negotiations
Trump doubles tariffs on India to 50%, but offers 21 days window for negotiations

Indian Express

time14 minutes ago

  • Indian Express

Trump doubles tariffs on India to 50%, but offers 21 days window for negotiations

Ramping up pressure on India before US negotiators are expected to reach India on August 25, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday doubled the tariffs on India to 50 per cent, but there is a 21-day window before the additional tariff of 25 per cent comes into effect, offering India a window to strike a trade deal. A White House statement said that the US will impose 'additional 25 percent ad valorem duty' above the 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs announced on August 1 to 'deal with the national emergency stemming from Russia's actions in Ukraine'. This tariff is deemed necessary and appropriate due to India's 'direct or indirect import of Russian Federation oil', which the President judges will more effectively address the national emergency, the executive order said. The additional tariffs dramatically raises pressure on India as most of its competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh and now China are not at lower tariffs. However, exporters said that US tariffs related uncertainty is already disrupting trade and that Indian exporters have grown wary of exporting to the US. About half of India's total exports of $80 billion are, however, in the exemption list that include products such as pharma and electronics goods. While the fresh order takes the total US tariffs to its highest on any country globally, it also offers a fresh window for discussion. The Indian Express had reported on Saturday that key economic ministries have been asked for inputs to sweeten the US trade deal stuck on India's resistance to US demand for access in the Indian agri market. 'This 25 percent ad valorem duty will be effective for goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time 21 days after the date of the order. There are exceptions for goods that were loaded onto a vessel and in transit before this effective date and are entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 17, 2025,' the order read. NEW: President Donald J. Trump just signed an Executive Order imposing an additional 25% tariff on India in response to its continued purchase of Russian oil. Here is the text of the Order: By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the… — Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) August 6, 2025 While New Delhi has called the targeting of India over the purchase of Russian oil 'unjustified and unreasonable' and vowed to take 'all necessary measures' to safeguard its 'national interests and economic security', Indian exporters are in a fix, scrambling to retain access to the US — their most valuable export market, accounting for nearly 20 per cent of India's total outbound shipments. Incidentally, China is the largest buyer of Russian oil, at about 2 million barrels per day, followed by India (just under 2 million a day) and Turkey. The US had agreed to lower tariffs on Chinese goods to 30 per cent from 145 per cent in May. The executive order does not make a mention of China, but instead stipulates a mechanism wherein the US Secretary of Commerce, in coordination with other senior officials, 'will monitor if any other country (beyond India) is directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil and recommend further action'. Indian officials have indicated that the US is unwilling to negotiate sectoral tariffs — such as those on steel and automobiles — which have already impacted nearly $5 billion worth of Indian exports. Evan A. Feigenbaum, Vice President for Studies at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace, said on Monday that US-India relations may now become a political football, especially in New Delhi. He warned that the core understandings that enabled closer ties may be at serious risk, as New Delhi had largely assumed Washington would take political risks to strengthen the relationship — something Trump has not done and clearly will not do. Feigenbaum added that the split in relations is further underscored by Trump's effusive praise for Islamabad and recent engagement with Pakistan's army and government — developments that raise obvious concerns in New Delhi. 'The United States was roiled by India's ties to Iran, Myanmar, and later Russia. Trump and his administration are now moving to sanction and tariff India over its oil trade with Russia. This significantly shifts the bar for bilateral relations,' he said. Ravi Dutta Mishra is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, covering policy issues related to trade, commerce, and banking. He has over five years of experience and has previously worked with Mint, CNBC-TV18, and other news outlets. ... Read More

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store