Shashi Tharoor Urges India to Retaliate Against US 50% Tariff on Indian Goods

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor has voiced strong concerns over the US government's decision to impose a 50% tariff on Indian goods, particularly targeting India's oil imports from Russia. He emphasized that this steep tariff increase will make Indian products much more expensive in the American market, putting them at a significant disadvantage compared to similar goods from countries such as Pakistan, China, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, which face lower tariffs.

Tharoor highlighted the unfairness of the treatment India is receiving compared to China, which imports a far larger quantity of oil from Russia but was granted a 90-day window before tariffs took effect, whereas India was given only three weeks. He suggested this disparity is an intentional signal from the US and urged the Indian government to carefully consider its response.

In response, Tharoor recommended that India take firm retaliatory measures by increasing tariffs on American imports from the current average of 17% to 50%, matching the US tariff. He stressed that no country should be able to threaten India with such economic penalties without facing consequences. Tharoor questioned whether the US truly values its relationship with India, asserting that if India does not matter to the US, then the US should cease to matter to India.

Overall, Tharoor's stance is clear: India must protect its national interests, stand firm against these tariff hikes, and respond decisively to safeguard its economy and trade relations.