Join hands against the US’ unilateral tariff pressures

Swadeshi Jagaran Manch (SJM) on August 12 expresses its deep regret over the recently passed legislation by the US Senate, authorising the US President to impose tariffs of up to 100 per cent on countries that make significant oil purchases from Russia. We, at SJM, firmly believe that no country has the right to dictate India’s energy security and sovereign trade policy. While we acknowledge that this legislation has not yet completed the full legislative process and that tariffs would not be imposed automatically, it clearly poses a serious threat to the principles of free and fair international trade and to the sovereign right of nations to determine their own energy policies.

Backing the Government

SJM fully supports the Government of India’s stand that India’s purchase of Russian crude oil is based on considerations of energy security, availability, price, diversification of supplies, and the interests of Indian consumers. India has repeatedly made it clear that our sovereign right to purchase energy from legitimate international markets cannot be dictated by any third country. This is not the first time there have been threats to impose unfair tariffs on goods entering the USA.

SJM has stated that the proposed legislation empowering the US President to impose 100 per cent tariffs on countries purchasing oil from Russia will be used by the US administration as a pressure tactic in the ongoing negotiations in the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement. The Government of India has rightly maintained its position on sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy. The SJM urges the Government to remain equally firm on India’s sovereign right to determine its energy policy.

Swadeshi Jagaran Manch has expressed its unhappiness over two recent developments, where the Government of India has seemingly shown an unnecessary goodwill gesture to facilitate India-US BTA, which needs reconsideration:

Given this unilateral act of the US Senate, passing legislation to impose a 100 per cent tariff on imports from India, India should also impose a unilateral ban on US tech and social media companies. Recently, we have noticed that US social media companies have adopted unethical and illegal tactics to create social unrest, endangering national security, and the same has also been conceded by one major ‘Meta’. Under the circumstances, this is the right time to immediately impose a ban on such miscreant companies.

Swadeshi Jagran Manch urges nationalist and patriotic forces to join hands against the United States of America’s unilateral actions.

SJM urges the Government of India to:

• Withdraw the notification allowing FDI in e-commerce entities, like Amazon, Flipkart- Walmart, to hold inventories for exports.
• Withhold the Bill passed in the Lok Sabha, permitting banks and other electronic service providers to impose MDR, to forbid Visa and Master Card companies to regain a foothold in India.
• Reject unequivocally any attempt to use US tariffs to dictate India’s oil purchases.
• Make it clear that India’s energy procurement is a sovereign matter.
• Ensure that India-U.S. trade negotiations are conducted on the basis of equality, reciprocity and mutual respect.
• Refuse any demand that compromises India’s agriculture, dairy sector, energy security or strategic autonomy.

Patriotic citizens are requested to boycott products like Pepsi and Coke companies, social media and E-Commerce platforms of US companies, to start with. If the US continues to act against India’s interests, this boycott can be extended to services of other US giants as well.