Trump's 25% Tariff Stirs India-U.S. Political Waters

New Delhi, Jul 31 (PTI) — In a fresh move that has stirred political waters in India, U.S. President Donald Trump declared a hefty 25% tariff on Indian goods, prompting Congress to criticize Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The opposition drew a contrast between what Modi termed the TOP (Tomato, Onion, Potato) issues and the new CAP (China, America, Pakistan) political challenges that India faces.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress general secretary responsible for communications, remarked that Trump is exerting serious pressure on India. In a statement on the social media platform X, Ramesh mentioned that Trump has consistently claimed credit for halting Operation Sindoor, an assertion he's repeated 30 times since May 10 across four nations.

Further, Ramesh pointed out, Trump hosted Pakistan's army chief and a pivotal figure in the Pahalgam terror attacks at the White House on June 18. Ramesh continued, noting that on July 30, Trump introduced both the 25% tariff on Indian imports and penalties related to India's oil and defense acquisitions from Russia. Additionally, sanctions were imposed on six Indian entities for transactions with Iran.

On the same day, Trump announced U.S. support for Pakistan's oil and gas sector exploration and development, reinforcing his stance as a strong ally to Pakistan, which also benefits from World Bank and IMF support, Ramesh highlighted.

Ramesh criticized Modi, saying the Prime Minister had invested significantly in his personal rapport with Trump, just as he had with Chinese President Xi. Both leaders, Ramesh claimed, have sized Modi up as someone easily manipulated through flattery.

The Congress leader's comments came in the wake of Trump's July 30 announcement regarding tariffs and penalties scheduled to commence from August 1, perceived as a tactic to pressure India into accepting U.S. trade demands. The move forms part of a broader U.S. strategy that has seen successful renegotiations with Japan, the UK, and the EU.

Trump publicly described India's trade policies as "most strenuous and obnoxious," indicating that all Indian exports would incur a 25% tariff, along with penalties primarily due to significant Indian purchases of Russian oil and military goods—a first, as Trump refrained from penalizing China despite similar actions.

Following the tariff declaration, Indian opposition parties criticized Modi's administration, suggesting his personal relationship with the U.S. president has had little tangible benefit. Ramesh drew upon history, urging Modi to mirror former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's assertive stance against U.S. leaders.

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