Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Friday addressed the tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on India. Speaking at the NDTV World Summit 2025, Sunak said that every country acts in its own national interest, and that is entirely justified. Sunak, who earlier joined Goldman Sachs as a senior advisor, also spoke on issues such as immigration, the emergence of a multipolar world, the India-UK trade deal, and several other topics.
Sunak reacts to Trump’s India tariffs
“I think every country is gonna work on its own national interest. And that is entirely right,” Sunak said at the summit. He added that relationships based purely on short-term transactions often fail to produce meaningful results. “When you base your relationships on trust, I think they can, over time, be more powerful,” Sunak added, explaining his own experience working with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on the UK’s post-Brexit arrangements.
Sunak also praised India’s economic growth, calling it an “economic superpower.” He added that India is on track to have cricket included in the 2028 Olympics, and the country is on the rise in the technology and energy sectors. “India has just about surpassed the UK in terms of the number of Unicorns,” he said.
On the topic of migration, Sunak gave sovereignty the most importance. He added that while the UK values skilled talent, managing illegal migration is still a priority. “On the issue of migration, I come from a family of immigrants. But the first issue is the issue of illegal migration, it’s the government’s decision who can come to your country, as it’s a matter of fundamental sovereignty,” he said.
Old global order is gone
On India-US tariffs, Sunak added that the world has changed. “The old global order, which I grew up with, is gone. I don’t think it’s coming back. But a couple of themes are clear. I see more multipolarity, and countries will focus on their own strengths,” he said.
The US has imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, including a 25% penalty for purchasing Russian oil. While Washington claims such imports help fund Russia’s war in Ukraine, India has claimed that its energy purchases depend on market forces and national security, not geopolitics.
India-UK trade deal sends positive signal
Sunak also opened up about the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, which was recently signed. He said it was encouraging to see the agreement wrapped up peacefully, as it sends a strong message in a world that is becoming more protectionist. “In a world that is becoming more protectionist, countries like the UK and India signing a big, deep trade deal sends a very positive signal to the world. It also tells businesses, cultural institutions, and civil society that the relationship matters,” he explained during the NDTV summit.
Sunak added that the deal will lead the two countries to cooperate in technology, security, and semiconductors. “In biotechnology, the UK has strengths in in vivo gene editing, and India is an agricultural powerhouse. There are opportunities for cross-pollination,” he added.
