US Congressman Ami Bera Champions Bipartisan Resolution to Strengthen US-India Strategic Partnership Amid Tariff Tensions

Ami Bera has secured approximately 30 co-signers for his resolution, with equal representation from both political parties.

The United States distinguishes its relationship with India from that with Pakistan, viewing New Delhi as a 'vital strategic partner,' according to Ami Bera, the longest-serving Indian American Member of Congress. Bera, a Democrat, has collaborated with Republican lawmaker Joe Wilson to introduce a bipartisan resolution in the US Congress that acknowledges the strategic importance of the historical partnership between New Delhi and Washington.

This resolution emerges amid tensions in India-US relations following Washington's imposition of substantial 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods. The Trump administration implemented reciprocal tariffs of 25 percent on Indian products as part of a broader strategy to address trade imbalances and support domestic industries, while an additional 25 percent was imposed due to India's purchase of Russian oil.

In his interview with NDTV, Bera admitted that the Trump administration's tariff policies and immigration restrictions were creating strain in India-US relations but emphasized that despite "some bumps," US strategy has remained consistent for "three decades to strengthen the relationship."

"Some of the statements that President Trump had made, the 50 percent tariffs, the $100,000 fee on H-1B visas – all of these were putting a strain on things... I felt it was necessary for Congress, in a bipartisan way, to express strong support for the US-India relationship," the Democratic lawmaker explained, highlighting the rationale behind his resolution.

"Even if there are some bumps in the road right now, our strategy has been the same for three decades: to strengthen the relationship. I think it's important for this to be a bipartisan resolution, Democrats and Republicans speaking with one voice," he further stated.

Bera's resolution aims to enhance cooperation between India and the US, two of the world's largest democracies, across essential sectors including defense, technology, trade, counterterrorism, and education.

He mentioned having nearly 30 co-signers at present, distributed equally between both party lines.

"I think it's important for us to speak with one voice. The resolution highlights the long-term nature, going back three decades to President [Bill] Clinton, to [Barack] Obama, to [George W] Bush, [Joe] Biden, and Trump, that really has said this [India-US] is a critical relationship... We want to keep it moving in the right direction," he stated.

The US lawmaker criticized Trump's advisers, particularly Peter Navarro, for providing 'bad advice' to the President regarding the Indian-American community. However, he noted that Trump has altered his position on certain MAGA (Make America Great Again) policies, including the H-1B visa issue.

"I think this is an area where President Trump is getting bad advice from folks like Peter Navarro and others, maybe Stephen Miller. If you've been watching US television, you saw the president talk about the importance of having high-skilled workers from around the world being able to come to the United States, especially to fill jobs when foreign companies are making those investments in the United States. "I actually think the president probably does get the need for high-skilled labour for doctors and others," Bera remarked.

He also recognized that India's domestic market is expanding rapidly, and President Trump's H-1B policy would harm the US more than India, as corporations can easily relocate to India to recruit talent.

When questioned about strengthening ties between the US and Pakistan under the Trump administration, Bera suggested the President likely "has some advisers who are not coaching him correctly."

"Part of the reason for this resolution is that we've spent three decades separating India and Pakistan. We see India as a vital strategic partnership. You see US companies making multibillion-dollar investments in India and Indian companies doing the same in the United States. You see the strategic defence relationship with India. From a congressional perspective, none of that is going to change. And again, that was part of what's driving us to do this resolution," he explained, reiterating that "India is a vital strategic partner" for the US.

"You don't see that same dialogue with Pakistan. So the relationship is not the same. You don't see US companies making billion-dollar investments in Pakistan. We won't be doing joint naval exercises anytime soon with Pakistan."