

Ep 36 - Tariff Roulette: How India Can Play Trump's Tariff Game | Ft. Jason Furman, Harvard Economist
n this episode of The Great Tech Game podcast, Professor Jason Furman -- the Aetna Professor of the Practice of Economic Policy at Harvard Kennedy School and former 28th Chairman of the Council of Economic Advisors under President Barack Obama -- offers a rare peek behind the curtain of President Trump's tariff strategy and their far-reaching impacts. We explore the surprising realities of who truly wins and loses in this global economic upheaval, both within the US and across the world, and why the aggregate picture might not be what you expect.Professor Furman critically examines India's unique and challenging position in this tariff landscape, facing a potentially "unfair" deal with a projected 50% tariff rate. Could this be India's pivotal "1991 moment" for significant domestic reforms? What strategic choices lie ahead for its booming economy?The discussion also delves into:• Why countries have largely opted for "personalistic" bilateral deals rather than forming a united front against US tariffs, and what this reveals about global negotiation dynamics.• The one country that has successfully pushed back against US tariffs, and the unique leverage that allowed it to do so.• The potential long-term shifts in global trade patterns and whether the "most favored nation" principle is truly a thing of the past.• The profound implications of AI for global productivity and the future of jobs. Will AI be a "massively positive" force, and how might its benefits be distributed across different nations?• The critical role of immigration in fuelling the US tech and AI industries, and why its future is a key concern.Professor Furman also provides candid rapid-fire answers on pressing questions like whether Trump's trade war protects American jobs (his answer may surprise you!) and who ultimately pays the price for high tariffs, and whether Trump will finally strike a deal with India eventually or not.Tune in to gain a deeper understanding of the forces shaping today's global economy and what lies ahead for nations caught in the "Tariff Roulette."Subscribe for more insightful discussions on geopolitics, technology, and economics!