Democrat Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi Criticizes Trump’s Tariffs on India
Democrat Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s tariffs on India, describing them as “misguided” and warning that they could strain the relationship between the United States and the world’s largest democracy.
Washington: Democrat Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has strongly criticized President Donald Trump’s tariffs on India, describing them as “misguided” and warning that they could strain the relationship between the United States and the world’s largest democracy.
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In a statement released Thursday, Krishnamoorthi, who represents Illinois, expressed concern that the new tariffs would harm the economic, diplomatic, and security interests of the United States at a time when cooperation with India is crucial.
US-India Partnership Under Strain
“President Trump’s latest blanket tariffs on India are not only misguided but also profoundly damaging to the economic, diplomatic, and security interests of the US,” said Krishnamoorthi. “At a time when our partnership with India is more crucial than ever to our shared prosperity and coordinated efforts to counter the military aggression and economic coercion of the Chinese Communist Party (CCP), these tariffs place an unnecessary strain on our relationship with India.”
As one of the five Indian-descent members of the US House of Representatives, Krishnamoorthi joins his colleagues, including Ro Khanna, Ami Bera, Shri Thanedar, and Pramila Jayapal, in voicing concerns about the tariffs.
Impact on American Families and Businesses
Krishnamoorthi further warned that the tariffs would likely result in higher costs for American families and impose burdens on both American and Indian businesses. He stressed that while the friendship between the US and India would remain strong, these tariffs could damage the economic ties that both nations have worked to build.
“I strongly urge President Trump to reverse his harmful new tariffs, including those on Indian imports, and instead prioritize the well-being of American families, the strength of the US-India partnership, and our collective economic and national security in the face of authoritarian threats,” the Congressman said.
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Trump’s Reciprocal Tariff System
On Wednesday, President Trump introduced a reciprocal tariff system aimed at imposing higher tariffs on countries that impose high duties on US imports or have large trade surpluses with the United States. The new system includes a baseline tariff rate of 10% on all imports to the US, with individualised rates for certain countries.
Under the new system, imports from India will face tariffs at 26%, while China will be levied 34%, and imports from the European Union will face a 20% tariff, among other countries.
Concerns Over Future Trade Relations
Krishnamoorthi’s comments reflect broader concerns about the long-term impact of Trump’s tariffs on international trade relations. Critics warn that such tariffs could jeopardize important alliances and trade partnerships, especially with rapidly growing economies like India.
The future of US-India relations may hinge on how the two nations navigate these trade tensions in the coming months.
