India brags about having 1.4 billion folks however will not purchase one bushel of U.S. corn: Lutnick

India brags about having 1.4 billion folks however received’t purchase even a small quantity of American corn, United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has mentioned, asserting that New Delhi should carry down its tariffs or face a “robust time” doing enterprise with the U.S.

Mr. Lutnick made the feedback throughout an interview on Saturday (September 13, 2025) when he was requested whether or not the U.S. is mismanaging “very invaluable relationships” with “vital allies” like India, Canada and Brazil with the tariffs imposed on these international locations.

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“The relationship is a technique, they promote to us and reap the benefits of us. They block us from their economic system, they usually promote to us whereas we’re broad open for them to return in [and] take benefit,” Mr. Lutnick mentioned. “The president says, ‘truthful and reciprocal commerce’,” he added.

“India brags that they’ve 1.4 billion folks. Why will not 1.4 billion folks purchase one bushel of U.S. corn? Doesn’t that rub you the improper approach that they promote all the pieces to us they usually will not purchase our corn. They put tariffs on all the pieces,” Mr. Lutnick mentioned.

‘President’s mannequin’

He added that President Donald Trump has mentioned “‘carry down your tariffs, deal with us the way in which we deal with you’”. The Commerce Secretary additional added “we’ve obtained to proper years of improper so we would like a tariff going the opposite approach till we repair this”.

“That’s the President’s mannequin, and also you both settle for it or you are going to have a troublesome time doing enterprise with the world’s biggest client,” Mr. Lutnick mentioned.

The Trump administration has imposed 50% tariffs on India, together with 25% for Delhi’s purchases of Russian oil, among the many highest imposed on any nation on the planet.

India has described the U.S. motion as “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”. Defending its buy of Russian crude oil, India has been sustaining that its vitality procurement is pushed by nationwide curiosity and market dynamics.