Aakar Patel

3 days ago | deccanchronicle.com | Aakar Patel

China’s crime is that in the next few years, perhaps as soon as 2035, it will be the world’s largest economy. Its Gross Domestic Product will be larger at that point than that of the United States, if the average growth rates of both nations over the last 15 years hold. This is unacceptable to the US, as it has been the dominant global power for the last century. This power has come mostly because of its economy, which is poised before our eyes to go from number one to number two.

4 days ago | nationalheraldindia.com | Aakar Patel

The West has no memory of a world where it has not been the ruler and the rest of us ‘the ruled’. Hence Donald Trump’s tariff tantrumChina’s crime is that in the next few years, perhaps as soon as 2035, it will be the world’s largest economy. At that point, China’s GDP (gross domestic product) will be larger than that of the United States, if the average growth rates of both nations over the last 15 years hold.

1 week ago | deccanchronicle.com | Aakar Patel

Commerce and trade ministries around the world are, according to US President Donald Trump, lining up to plead their case with the United States. Are we among them? Apparently, we are not. A headline from the weekend quoted India’s commerce minister Piyush Goyal as saying: “We don’t negotiate at gunpoint”. This is the right way of looking at it, and I agree with it. Sovereign nations should insist that they be treated as equals and not vassals.

1 week ago | nationalheraldindia.com | Aakar Patel

Is it because of the 56-inch chhaati or just strong foreign policy? Who has the best bargaining chips, and what are they?  Commerce ministries around the world are — according to Donald Trump — lining up to plead their case with the United States. Is India among them? Apparently, we are not. A headline last weekend quoted commerce minister Piyush Goyal saying: ‘We don’t negotiate at gunpoint.’ This is the right way of looking at it, and I agree with it.

2 weeks ago | deccanchronicle.com | Aakar Patel

How do trade wars end? To answer that, we have to first ask ourselves: how do wars end? The answer is that once begun, they are not at all easy to end. Most of the time, trade and diplomacy are conducted outside of the public view. This is not only because of secrecy but also the fact that the details are too boring to interest news debates. What tariff rate a country imposes on another on dairy, soya and auto spare parts, and what it should be charging instead, is not exciting material.