India Urged to Speak Up Against U.S. Tariff Threats

Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh insists India must actively respond to U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats and unilateral policies undermining international trade systems. Highlighting the stakes in global agreements, Ramesh cautions against passive compliance as India deliberates strategic measures to protect national interests.

In a bold statement on Friday, Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh urged India to break its silence regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's persistent tariff threats, which he claims are dismantling the World Trade Organisation's multilateral trading system. Ramesh emphasized India's vested interest in global institutions, referencing Trump's prior actions undermining the World Health Organisation and withdrawing from crucial agreements like the Paris Climate Accord and UNESCO.

Ramesh criticized Trump's unilateral approach, stating, "The WTO suffered heavy blows during Trump's first term and has faced extensive damage in his second." Stressing India's significant stakes in international accords, Ramesh insisted that remaining passive and relying on slogans and acronyms were insufficient.

The call to action followed Trump's announcement of a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, with threats of further penalties for buying Russian oil. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal indicated that the government is assessing the situation's impact and pledged to prioritize safeguarding national interests across sectors, reaffirming confidence in India's developmental trajectory towards Viksit Bharat 2047.