Why the world’s future may hinge on India’s tariffs and Russia’s new Dnepr river frontier.

India in the Tariff Crossfire

Washington’s recent tariffs on India—punitive duties of 50% on key exports such as textiles and gems, are a dastardly punishment for New Delhi’s continued purchase of Russian oil. Yet, the unintended consequences are glaring. India is no minor client state, nor is it easily coerced. Its economic lifeline runs through Russian energy, and its defense partnership with Moscow stretches back to the Cold War. Although think tanks and deep state actors may not consider it, every strike from Washington reinforces India’s need to hedge against U.S. pressure, and in practice, drives it closer to Russia. Therefore, what was meant to leverage or coerce becomes repulsion.

We must also take note that these tariffs don’t just punish India; they punish Americans. Economists warn that they will function as a hidden tax on U.S. households, raising consumer prices by nearly 2% overall—approximately........

© New Eastern Outlook