Shashi Tharoor Criticises US Tariffs on India, Urges Measured Response from Govt

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has expressed serious concern over US President Donald Trump's decision to impose an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods, warning of significant economic repercussions. Highlighting the scale of India-US trade, which stands at around $90 billion, Tharoor said the tariff hike could disrupt market dynamics and harm Indian exporters.

“The impact will be real. If costs rise by 50%, consumers will naturally think twice before making purchases. This will hurt our competitiveness against countries like Vietnam, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China,” Tharoor said, pointing to the likely diversion of demand to cheaper alternatives.

He also questioned the justification behind the move, which the US claims is a response to India’s ongoing import of oil and petroleum products from Russia. “China is purchasing nearly double the amount from Russia, yet they are given 90 days to comply, while India is given just three weeks. There’s clearly a different message from Washington,” he said, suggesting political motivations behind the unequal treatment.