India, Aug. 29 -- Richard Wolff, a noted American economist, has come down heavily on the Donald Trump administration over imposing 50 per cent tariffs on Indian imports, saying the US is acting like the "world's tough guy" against India, but it is only shooting itself in the foot, as it is pushing the BRICS to be an economic alternative to the West.

In an interview with Russia Today on Tuesday, Richard Wolf said the Trump tariff move, in a "hothouse fashion", "would develop the BRICS nations to be an ever larger, more integrated, and successful economic alternative to the West".

The United States on Wednesday doubled its tariffs on Indian goods to as high as 50 per cent, citing New Delhi's buying of Russian oil - the most punishing rat...