India brags about having 1.4 billion people but won’t buy one bushel of U.S. corn: Lutnick

India argue about being 1.4 billion people, but will not buy even a small amount of American corn, the United States Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnik said, saying that New Delhi will have to bring down its tariff or face the “difficult time” doing business with America.

Mr. Lutnik commented during an interview on Saturday (September 13, 2025) when he was asked whether the US was mismanagement of “very valuable relationships” with “important colleagues” like India, Canada and Brazil with tariffs installed in these countries.

Editorial | DoubleSek: Trump administration works and India

“The relationship is in a way, they sell us and take advantage of us. They block us from their economy, and they sell us while we are open to come to them [and] Take advantage, “Mr. Lutnik said.” The President says, ‘fair and mutual trade’, “he said.

“India said that they have 1.4 billion people. 1.4 billion people will not buy one of the corn blessings? Does it rub wrongly that they sell us everything and they will not buy our corn. They put tariffs on everything,” Sri Lutnik said.

‘President’s model’

He said that President Donald Trump has said that “bring down your tariffs, treat us the same as we treat you”. The Commerce Secretary further said, “We have gone wrong for the right years, so we want one tariff going to another way until we fix it”.

“This is the President’s model, and you either accept it or you are going to give difficult time to trade with the world’s largest consumer,” said Mr. Lutnik.

The Trump administration has imposed 50% tariffs on India, which includes 25% of the most planted Russian oil in any country of the world for the purchase of Delhi.

India has described American action as “unfair, inappropriate and unfair”. Defending its purchase of Russian crude oil, India is ensuring that its energy purchase is inspired by national interest and market dynamics.