Trade Turmoil: Kharge Slams Trump's Tariff Tactics

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge criticized US President Donald Trump's decision to impose tariffs on Indian goods, calling it a foreign policy failure. Kharge accused the Modi government of being unprepared to counter these economic pressures and lamented the lack of progress in trade negotiations with the US.

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has strongly criticized US President Donald Trump's imposition of a 50 percent tariff on Indian goods, labeling it a significant foreign policy blunder. Kharge asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's administration is at a loss on how to respond.

Following Trump's additional 25 percent penalty on India for purchasing Russian oil, Kharge highlighted the Modi government's failure to secure a trade agreement with the United States after ongoing negotiations. He accused Trump of using intimidation and coercion tactics against India.

Emphasizing India's strategic autonomy and non-alignment policy, Kharge noted that a 50 percent tariff could drastically impact vital sectors of the Indian economy. With exports to the US constituting a substantial economic portion, Kharge lamented the lack of preparedness in addressing such diplomatic challenges.

(With inputs from agencies.)