Washington DC, July 31 -- Former US Assistant Secretary of Commerce for Trade Development Ray Vickery has criticised US President Donald Trump's unilateral and confrontational approach to trade policy, urging India to rise as a global democratic leader following Washington's imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on New Delhi on Wednesday (local time).

Speaking on Trump's announcement of a 25 per cent tariff plus additional penalties on India, set to take effect August 1, Vickery described the move as part of the US President's typical pattern of generating bilateral pressure and chaos to eventually claim credit for resolving a crisis of his own making.

"This is typical Trump trying to create as much pressure and chaos on a bilateral basis ...