New Delhi, Aug. 27 -- Former Minister of State for External Affairs MJ Akbar on Wednesday criticised US President Donald Trump's tariff policy, calling it "an exercise in power" that will in the short run "weaken America".

"Trump's tariffs seem at the moment an exercise in power, but in the very short run, they will weaken America. They will weaken America because this is a policy of overkill. This is also a policy that shows that President Trump does not believe in friends. He believes in dependence. Prime Minister Modi has effectively challenged the economic imperialism of America. President Trump does not understand, I think, that while actions have consequences, language also hurts, language disrupts. The language that he has used in...