"Ready To Pay Personal Price": PM Modi's Strong Message Over Trump Tariffs
Sending a strong message the day after US President Donald Trump ratcheted up the tariff war against India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi stressed that India will never compromise with the interests of its animal husbandry industry and fishermen
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US President Donald Trump has escalated the trade dispute with India, prompting a resolute response from Prime Minister Narendra Modi
New Delhi:
In a firm response following US President Donald Trump's decision to increase tariffs against India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized that India will not compromise on the interests of its agricultural sector. Speaking at the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in Delhi, the Prime Minister declared his readiness to "pay a huge price personally" to protect the nation's farmers, fishermen, and livestock holders.
"The interest of farmers is our top priority," Modi stated shortly after Trump's new tariffs took effect. "India will never compromise with the interests of its farmers, livestock holders, and fishermen. And I know that I will have to pay a huge price for this personally, but I am ready. India is ready, for the sake of the country's farmers, fishermen and livestock holders."
Honoring MS Swaminathan, who led India's Green Revolution, the Prime Minister noted that "Building on the legacy of food security, the next frontier for our agricultural scientists is ensuring nutritional security for all."
Agricultural products constitute a significant portion of Indian exports to the US, making this sector particularly vulnerable to Trump's tariff measures.
Trump announced yesterday an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian exports, claiming it was a 'penalty' for India's continued importation of Russian crude oil. This follows an earlier 25 percent tariff imposed on July 20, bringing the total to 50 percent on Indian exports to the US.
The Ministry of External Affairs responded by calling the US action "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable." The ministry stated, "We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India. It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest." The ministry affirmed that India "will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests."
Relations between India and the US have been strained following Operation Sindoor, India's response to the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir that resulted in 26 civilian deaths. Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for mediating a ceasefire between India and Pakistan, an assertion denied by Modi's government. During the Operation Sindoor debate in Parliament, Prime Minister Modi stated, "We had said from day one that our action was non-escalatory. No leader in the world asked us to stop Operation Sindoor." The tariff increases have followed these disputed claims.
The tariff situation is further complicated by the current suspension of negotiations on an India-US trade agreement. Washington has been seeking greater access to India's agricultural market, a demand that New Delhi has resisted to protect its farmers.