Archive · 16 Sep 2025
Chellaney Accuses US of Double Standards on India, China Trade
Imagine the US is playing favorites in a trade game.
The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, is being called out for treating China and India differently.
While the US is hesitant to punish China for buying Russian oil, they've put big tariffs on India.
Chellaney thinks this is unfair, accusing the US of bullying India.
The US seems to be letting China off the hook while putting pressure on India to make trade concessions.
The US Secretary says that the tariffs on India have yielded ‘substantial progress’ in trade talks.
It’s like the US is being tough on one friend, India, while being easy on another friend, China.
Geostrategist Brahma Chellaney accused the US of double standards.
Chellaney said the US is letting China off the hook on Russian energy imports.
The US has imposed 50% tariffs on India due to Russian crude imports.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stated tariffs on India have created ‘substantial progress’.
Chellaney criticizes this approach, calling it economic coercion.
- Who
- Brahma Chellaney, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, and the Trump administration.
- What
- Chellaney accuses the US of applying double standards in trade negotiations with India and China, particularly regarding tariffs and sanctions related to Russian energy imports.
- When
- September 2025; Negotiations ongoing.
- Where
- Madrid, New Delhi, US.
- Why
- Chellaney argues the US is bullying India while being lenient towards China in trade negotiations.
Chellaney's Perspective
US Government's Perspective
Tariff Application
Chellaney's Perspective
The US uses tariffs to bully India into concessions, employing double standards compared to China.
US Government's Perspective
US tariffs on India have brought about 'substantial progress' in negotiations.
Sanctions on China
Chellaney's Perspective
The US is hesitant to impose secondary sanctions on China for Russian energy imports.
US Government's Perspective
The US will not impose secondary sanctions on China unless Europe acts first.
- Key Figure
- Brahma Chellaney (Geostrategist)
- US Official
- Scott Bessent (Treasury Secretary)
- Tariffs on India
- 50% imposed by Trump administration
- Tariff Justification
- India's Russian crude imports
- Location of Talks
- Madrid, New Delhi