Responding to the recent tariffs imposed by the United States on India, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Friday emphasized that India must prioritize protecting its own interests.
“What is happening is concerning. We had close ties and were strategic partners with this country. If their approach has changed, India will have to reconsider many aspects. Perhaps in the next two to three weeks, talks can be held to find a resolution. But India must also look after its own interests,” Tharoor said.
Yesterday, Tharoor suggested that India should consider raising tariffs on American goods to 50 percent in response to the US imposing an additional 25 percent duty on Indian exports. He questioned why India should stop at the current 17 percent tariff and stressed that India should not be intimidated by such measures. “No country should be allowed to threaten us like this,” he added.
Addressing reporters, Tharoor explained, “This will definitely have an impact since we have $90 billion in trade with the US. If their goods become 50 percent more expensive, buyers might question why they should buy Indian products. If they increase tariffs, we should respond with a 50 percent tariff on American exports. It is not acceptable for any country to threaten us.”
He further stated, “Our average tariff on American goods is 17 percent. Why should we stop there? We should raise it to 50 percent. We need to ask if they value our relationship. If India doesn’t matter to them, then they should not matter to us.”
On Wednesday, US President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order imposing an additional 25 percent tariff on imports from India. The move was justified by citing national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as trade laws, with claims that India’s imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States.
Calling the US decision “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable,” India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) declared that New Delhi will take “all actions necessary to protect its national interests.”
