NEW YORK: In an nth warning to the US President Donald Trump regarding his irrational tariffs towards India, the US lawmakers have moved a resolution seeking to revoke the tariffs. The illogical tariffs implied on New Delhi is indeed adversely affecting the US workers, consumers and the economic growth of the country. It is also mounting pressure on the India-US bilateral relations and creating fissures in the long-hailed most vital strategic partnership between Washington DC and New Delhi, the US lawmakers asserted.
The members of the US House of Representatives on December 12, Friday, introduced a resolution in the House reiterating that the tariffs are illegal, counterproductive and disproportionately hurting American consumers and businesses. The Democrat representatives who moved the resolution are Deborah Ross, Marc Veasey and Raja Krishnamoorthi. The resolution also specifically targeted the additional 25 per cent tariffs imposed on India that targeted the Indian import of the Russian oil, thus taking the total tariff toll on India to 50 per cent.
In reality, beyond escalating the tariff burden on India and derailing its export momentum into the US market, the tariffs dismantled the growth of the American economy. As anticipated, the tariffs imposed on India did little to boost domestic manufacturing in the US. It did little in expanding the American goods and markets. Instead, all that the tariffs did was to rise cost of living, mount inflation, spike tax pressure on the American consumers and the workers, disrupt supply chain, ultimately fracturing the stability of the US economy.
Representative Deborah Ross exclaimed, “North Carolina’s economy is deeply connected to India through trade, investment and a vibrant Indian American community”. Billions of dollars of investment and thousands of jobs are linked to the Indian companies. Thus, the tariffs derail the economy and disrupt lives, Ross further warned.
“India is an important economic, cultural and strategic partner and these illegal tariffs are a tax on everyday North Texans who are already struggling with rising costs”, Marc Veasey added, explaining how tariffs are disrupting everyday life and adding tax pressure on the public. Lawmaker Krishnamoorthi also said that the tariffs are harming American workers, disrupting supply chains and spiking the cost of living for the consumers, instead of ensuring economic security and national prosperity for the country and its people.
The lawmakers in the House of Representatives thus unequivocally echoed to remove the tariffs and other trade barriers imposed on India under the emergency powers of the US President. With the resolution, the members of the House of Representatives expressed their constitutional authority in managing and regulating trade with other countries. “Ending Trump’s India tariffs is part of a broader effort by Congressional Democrats to reclaim Congress’ authority over trade and stop the President from using emergency powers to unilaterally impose misguided policies”, the lawmakers reaffirmed in a joint statement.
This is not the maiden warning rendered to the US President Donald Trump over his irrational tariffs towards India. Economist Jeffrey Sachs, Diplomat Nikki Haley, Democrat Ro Khanna and various other academic and political bulwarks of the United States has repeatedly warned Donald Trump over his misadventure towards India, as the latter is a strategic partner of India for the economic and geopolitical strategy of the US in the 21st century. But, will Trump realize the vitality and inevitability of India, in the US foreign policy, only Time and Trump can decide!
On the other hand, sound trade negotiations are underway between India and the US. New Delhi being the 4th largest economy seeks for a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial trade deal and not a deal tilted towards the hegemonic ambitions or mere short-term gains. A deal that secures the economic interests and nationalist goals of the 1.4 billion populace of the country. This strategic firmness of India, has lately made the Trump administration melt down to an extent and indulge in fair negotiations rather than illogical tariff tussle.The latest phone conversations between Prime Minister Modi and President Trump can also be analysed in this backdrop.
