In a much-anticipated announcement, United States President Donald Trump declared 26 per cent tariff on India. Trump announced the reciprocal tariffs on countries around the world at the ‘Make America Wealthy Again’ event. During his address, Trump called Prime Minister Narendra Modi a “great friend,” and said that the United States charges India almost nothing. With the tariffs announced, Trump highlighted that the era of American taxpayers being “ripped off” was over. The tariffs have gone into effect immediately.
Leaders React To US Tariffs
While market experts shared their views on the tariffs imposed by the US, political leaders are not far behind in expressing their stance on it. Lok Sabha LoP and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised the US tariff issue in the Lok Sabha on Thursday. Gandhi said that the US tariffs will completely devastate India. He further asked what the government is doing about the issue of tariffs.
“On the other side, our ally has decided to levy tariffs on us. This will completely devastate us, our auto industry, our pharmaceutical industry. They are all on the line. What is Government of India doing about our land and what will you do on the issue of tariffs,” said Gandhi in the House.
Speaking in Lok Sabha over the situation on LAC and US reciprocal tariff, LoP Rahul Gandhi says, "There should be status quo, and we should get our land back. It has also come to my knowledge that the Prime Minister and President have written to Chinese. We are finding this out… pic.twitter.com/jtpPmM2lKU
---Advertisement---— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2025
Rajya Sabha LoP and Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge said that the party is going to have discussion on “reciprocal tariff” and release a detailed statement.
“It doesn’t seem right to give a byte on this issue. Our party will release a detailed statement on it,” said Kharge outside the Parliament. “The friendship between them and the way they embrace each other and talk and now these tariffs. It shows that America is a businessman. ‘Aur wo humara customer phas gaya,” added Kharge.
#WATCH | Delhi | As the US imposes 26% 'reciprocal tariffs' on India, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge says, "… Their friendship (US President Trump and PM Modi) and the way they hug and talk shows that America (US President Donald Trump) is a businessman. 'Aur wo humara… pic.twitter.com/rqe0XxXZwo
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2025
Moreover, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla stated that the tariffs are “extremely detrimental” to our trade. He urged an immediate discussion between the Indian government and the US to address the tariff issue.
#WATCH | Delhi | On #WaqfAmendmentBill passed in Lok Sabha, Congress MP Rajeev Shukla says, "The stand taken by the opposition yesterday will be maintained in the Rajya Sabha as well… Congress will stick to its principles."
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2025
On the US imposing 26% 'reciprocal tariffs' on India,… pic.twitter.com/3BF42CROCo
AAP MP Raghav Chadha further questioned what the Indian government got in return for maintaining friendship with the US. He emphasised that the tariffs will impact the Indian companies hugely.
“We used to listen to this song ‘acha sila diya tune mere pyar ka’… India left no stone unturned to maintain the friendship. Even the union finance minister removed a tax called the ‘Google tax’ to protect the interests of American companies. But what did we get in response to that? It will have a huge impact on our companies,” said Chadha.
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor called it a “bad” news and added that the Indian exports will become less competitive due to US tariffs.
“We still don’t know the full implications of all of this. Certainly, if we are at a 26% tariff, then Indian exports will become less competitive. It also depends on who the competition is…We have a bilateral trade deal coming out of the negotiations; then we might be able to moderate some of the elements in the current decision announced on April 2. In the short term, a 26% tariff sounds like bad news,” said Tharoor.
#WATCH | On the US imposing 26% 'reciprocal' tariff on India, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "We still don't know the full implications of all of this. Certainly, if we are at a 26% tariff, then Indian exports will become less competitive. It also depends on who the competition… pic.twitter.com/yLHZYgaxDB
— ANI (@ANI) April 3, 2025
Also Read: Trump’s 26% Tariff On India: Will US Trade Policy Leave ‘America Alone’? Market Expert Weighs In
