Donald Trump is a “bully” with no interest in fairness, decency: Jeffrey D Sachs

Columbia University professor and acclaimed economist Jeffrey D Sachs has said that the tariffs, including the additional 25% announced by the Trump administration on August 6 in response to India’s purchase of Russian oil, bringing the total to 50%, clearly undermine the United States’ own economic wellbeing. He added that he had repeatedly warned India against falling into what he called the American trap of “siding with the US against China.”

Sachs, a University Professor and Director of the Center for Sustainable Development at Columbia University, told Open in an interview that Trump is a bully without the slightest interest in fairness, honesty, decency or in India’s wellbeing.  “Trump is flailing around because he doesn’t follow the true path to end the war in Ukraine, which would through be real negotiation and diplomacy with Russia, including the acceptance that NATO enlargement was a terrible mistake that provoked the war,” said Sachs, who formerly directed Columbia University’s Earth Institute and has advised three United Nations Secretaries-General.

He also added that the US was just using India against China, without any interest in India’s economic development. “I warned earlier this year that the US would not keep its markets open to Indian exports,” he told Open. Sachs added that, sadly, his warnings proved to be on the mark.

In its latest executive order, the Trump administration said that “the President found that India is currently importing Russian Federation oil”.

“Accordingly, to address the national emergency stemming from the Government of the Russian Federation’s actions taken against Ukraine, he is imposing an additional 25% tariff on imports from India, effective August 27, due to India’s direct or indirect importation of Russian Federation oil,” the statement pointed out.

The order added that the new tariff regime was in addition to any other duties, fees, taxes, exactions, and charges applicable to such imports, unless subject to existing or future actions under section 232 of the Trade Expansion Act of 1962.

It added that this tariff is also in addition to any tariff applicable under “Executive Order 14257 of April 2, 2025, as amended, but the additional 25% tariff imposed by this order shall not apply to articles set forth in Annex II to Executive Order 14257.”

Americans maintain that the Russian Federation’s actions in Ukraine pose an ongoing threat to the US’ national security and foreign policy, “necessitating stronger measures to address the national emergency”. “India’s importation of Russian Federation oil undermines US efforts to counter Russia’s harmful activities,” it argues.

Trump had said that India was not only buying massive amounts of Russian oil, but are also selling it on the open market for big profits.

For its part, India’s ministry of external affairs said in a statement on August 6 that the country has made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that its imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of its 1.4 billion people.
The statement added, “It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest.”

New Delhi also emphasised, “We reiterate that these actions are unfair, unjustified and unreasonable. India will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests.”

Sachs, meanwhile, is of the view that amidst these challenges, the BRICS need to bolster their cooperation, as well as the cooperation of the BRICS with the rest of the emerging and developing countries, in Central Asia, Southeast Asia, Western Asia, Africa, and Latin America.

He summed up, “That is the real future for progress, rather than expecting that the West will play fairly.” He said that the US will not play fairly for many years to come, until the US overcomes its delusions of hegemony.

Donald Trumpglobal economyJeffrey D SachsTrade TariffsUS economy