"India Should Retaliate": Shashi Tharoor To NDTV On 50% Trump Tariffs
"India Should Retaliate": Shashi Tharoor To NDTV On 50% Trump Tariffs
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- From: India News Bull
"We should first negotiate. I don't know why Mr Trump is so angry with us. They gave a 90-day deadline to China and just 21 days to us. Now if they have reached 50 percent, our response can only be reciprocal tariffs," Tharoor stated outside Parliament.
Tharoor noted that India currently imposes 17 percent tariffs on US imports. "We should also raise it to 50 percent. If you do this to us, we will do the same," he remarked.
The Trump administration announced a 25 percent additional tariff yesterday as a 'penalty' for India's continued purchase of Russian crude oil. India has consistently defended this practice, stating it buys Russian oil to ensure energy security for its citizens.
India has described the US action as "unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable," adding that it is "extremely unfortunate" that the US imposed additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries, including neighboring China, are also taking.
When asked if New Delhi should continue purchasing oil from Moscow despite Trump's pressure tactics, Tharoor responded, "We need to look at the market and decide where to buy oil and gas from. If Russian oil is a lot cheaper than rates offered by other countries, why can't we profit from it? We need oil and gas for development activities."
Trade negotiations between India and the US have stalled amid the Trump administration's ongoing tariff offensive. A key obstacle to a trade agreement has been India's refusal to grant the US greater access to critical sectors, such as agriculture, in order to protect domestic farmers. Following the implementation of Trump's tariffs, Prime Minister Modi delivered a strong message: "The interest of farmers is our top priority. 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."
Commenting on this stance, Tharoor emphasized that a significant portion of India's population is connected to the agriculture sector. "No matter whose government it is, Modi ji's or ours, we need to stand with the farmers," he told the media. "Our true friends abroad will understand this, but those who are not ready to understand, who do not value our relationship as much we value it, we need to look for other friends," he added, referencing the growing tension in India's relationship with its key strategic partner, the United States.