Navarro warns India trade talks ‘won’t end well’
White House trade advisor Peter Navarro has once again sparked controversy with a fiery outburst on U.S. trade policy, this time targeting India and even questioning the future of the BRICS alliance. Speaking on Monday (September 8, 2025) during an interview with the conservative media outlet Real America’s Voice, Navarro warned that India “must come around” in ongoing negotiations with Washington or risk things “not ending well” for New Delhi.
Navarro, a longtime critic of global trade practices that he believes disadvantage the United States, used blunt language to describe his view of the situation. Referring to India as the “Maharajah of tariffs,” he accused the country of maintaining unfair barriers while simultaneously benefiting from U.S. trade access. “They can’t keep hiding behind tariffs and expecting the United States to tolerate it forever.”
His comments come at a delicate moment in U.S.–India relations. Washington has been pressing New Delhi to open up more sectors for American goods and services, while India has sought greater access for its own exports. Both sides have expressed interest in deepening strategic ties, especially as a counterweight to China, but trade frictions remain a stubborn obstacle.
Navarro went further in his remarks by criticizing the BRICS bloc—Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa—saying the alliance is doomed to fail. “They all hate each other,” he claimed, brushing aside the group’s recent efforts to project unity and push for alternatives to Western financial institutions. In his view, BRICS is more of a talking shop than a real counterbalance to the U.S.-led order.
The White House advisor did not stop there. “For decades, they’ve been exploiting our openness while protecting their own economies,” he argued. “That era is ending.”
Navarro’s sharp rhetoric reflects a broader hardline stance inside parts of the U.S. administration. While other officials, including diplomats, often speak more cautiously to avoid alienating partners, Navarro has built a reputation for bluntness and for casting trade relations in almost combative terms. His approach resonates with parts of the American political base that feel globalization has hollowed out U.S. industry, though critics say his language risks damaging delicate partnerships.
In India, initial reactions to Navarro’s statements were muted, but trade experts noted that calling New Delhi the “Maharajah of tariffs” could stoke resentment rather than cooperation.
As trade talks continue, it remains to be seen whether Washington and New Delhi can bridge their differences. For now, Navarro’s warning—that things “won’t end well” if India doesn’t compromise—underscores just how contentious these discussions have become.