Trump misplayed his hand with India on tariffs: Australian ex-PM Tony Abbott

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott on Friday said US President Donald Trump misplayed his hand with India on the tariff issue.

“I am a supporter of President Trump, but I think he misplayed his hand with India recently when he imposed those punitive tariffs — particularly given that other countries, especially China, are the ones cheating and did not face similar treatment,” Abbott said, referring to Trump’s decision to impose 50 per cent tariffs on India, including 25 per cent specifically on the purchase of Russian oil.

Abbott said the US move would serve as a temporary setback for New Delhi and hoped it could be remedied very quickly by Washington.

“I think it is a serious setback, but given the fundamental community of interests and values that India does have with the democracies, I think this will only be a temporary setback but let us hope this can be remedied very quickly,” he said at an event.

Abbott also said India was a counterweight to China and described three advantages for Delhi vis-a-vis Beijing — the rule of law, democracy and English language. He said the 21st century belongs to India just as it belongs to China.

“As the PM, I used to say India will emerge as a democratic superpower. Well now that has happened. The PM of India is likely to be the leader of the free world in the next four to five decades,” said Abbott, the Liberal Party leader.