New York, April 4 — Indian-American Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi has strongly criticized former President Donald Trump’s newly announced 26% tariffs on Indian imports, calling them “misguided” and “profoundly damaging” to U.S. economic and security interests.
The Illinois Democrat issued a statement on Thursday, expressing concern over the strain the tariffs could place on the U.S.-India relationship, particularly at a time when collaboration between the two democracies is vital to counter China’s military and economic threats.
The document detailed stark contrasts in product-specific tariffs, noting:
The Illinois Democrat issued a statement on Thursday, expressing concern over the strain the tariffs could place on the U.S.-India relationship, particularly at a time when collaboration between the two democracies is vital to counter China’s military and economic threats.
"Unnecessary Strain on a Vital Partnership"
Krishnamoorthi emphasized that the blanket tariffs risk undermining a critical alliance.He warned that the new levies would increase costs for American families and create additional burdens for businesses in both countries.“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 the world’s largest democracy,” he stated.
Trump Defends Tariffs as Reciprocal Measures
On Wednesday, Trump announced the 26% "discounted reciprocal tariff" on Indian goods, comparing it to India’s 52% average tariff on American products. Holding up a chart, Trump highlighted tariff disparities with countries including India, China, the EU, Japan, and others.He further claimed that previous administrations had allowed other countries to exploit the U.S. trade system and boasted of the tariffs imposed during his first term, particularly on China.“India, very, very tough. The Prime Minister just left. He's a great friend of mine, but I said, ‘You're not treating us right.’ They charge us 52 per cent,” Trump said.
Executive Order Highlights Global Tariff Gaps
Trump’s executive order underscores disparities in Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) tariff rates, citing that the U.S. has one of the lowest average rates globally at 3.3%, while countries like India (17%), China (7.5%), and Brazil (11.2%) maintain significantly higher tariffs.The document detailed stark contrasts in product-specific tariffs, noting:
- India imposes a 70% duty on passenger vehicles vs. the U.S.’s 2.5%
- India levies 50% on apples, compared to the U.S.’s zero
- For network routers, the U.S. charges 0% while India imposes 10%
Krishnamoorthi Urges Reversal of Tariffs
In a direct appeal to Trump, Krishnamoorthi called for an immediate rollback of the tariffs, urging the administration to instead focus on:- Supporting American families
- Strengthening U.S.-India ties
- Enhancing national and economic security in the face of global authoritarianism
“These latest so-called 'Liberation Day' tariffs are reckless and self-destructive,” Krishnamoorthi said. “They inflict financial pain on Illinois and across the country at a time when people are struggling to keep small businesses afloat and put food on the table.”
Call to Action Against "Disastrous" Tariff Policies
Krishnamoorthi urged Americans to pressure the administration into reversing the “disastrous” policy shift before it pushes the U.S. toward recession.As the geopolitical landscape grows increasingly complex, lawmakers like Krishnamoorthi are highlighting the potential domestic and international fallout of aggressive trade strategies, especially when aimed at strategic partners like India.“The tariffs isolate us globally, alienate allies, and empower adversaries — while forcing seniors and working families to shoulder higher prices,” he warned.
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