The Communist Party of India (Marxist) Thursday strongly condemned the United States for imposing a 50 per cent tariff on Indian exports, terming it “arbitrary, dictatorial and reflecting bullying tactics of the US administration.”
In a statement, the CPI(M) politbureau urged the government to stand firm and resist succumbing to US pressure, warning that failure to do so would harm the country’s economic sovereignty.
The US, this week, imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports on top of the existing 25 per cent tariff, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil as the reason. The CPI(M) sees this move as an attempt to arm-twist countries like India for maintaining trade relations with Russia, while the US and EU themselves continue to trade with Russia.
“The US and the EU are attempting to bully countries like India for continuing trade relations with Russia, even as they themselves continue to trade with Russia,” the CPI(M) stated. The party has called upon all its units to organize protests against US bullying and in defense of the country’s economic sovereignty.
The CPI(M) further urged the government to take immediate steps to protect the interests of Indian exporters who will be adversely affected by these tariff hikes.
All opposition parties have slammed the Modi government for its silence over Trump’s repeated insults. Criticising the government for not taking a firm stand against Trump’s actions, CPI(M) MP P Sandosh Kumar said: “Our country’s leadership – from the Prime Minister to his ministers—has no person with the capacity. We should retaliate and give an answer.”
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor also denounced the US tariff hike, calling it an act of “economic blackmail” aimed at pressuring India into accepting an unjust trade agreement. Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, echoed similar sentiments, emphasising the need for India to protect its national interests.
The Ministry of External Affairs has also condemned the new US tariffs, calling them “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” The ministry has stated that India will take “all actions necessary to protect its national interests.”