Modi govt’s ‘superficial’ foreign policy responsible for US tariffs: Congress
New Delhi: Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge launched a sharp attack on the Modi government after the United States imposed additional tariffs on Indian goods, calling the move a direct outcome of New Delhi’s “superficial” foreign policy. He warned that the steep levies would trigger massive job losses across key export sectors.
According to Kashmir Media Service, the new tariffs, imposed by US President Donald Trump, add an additional 25 percent duty on Indian goods, taking the total tariff to 50 percent. These apply to products entering the US from today, under an order issued by the US Department of Homeland Security. While Trump announced reciprocal tariffs on India from August 7, alongside similar measures targeting 70 other countries, India faces a doubled rate due to its continued purchases of Russian crude oil, with a 21-day window allowed for negotiations.
In a post on X, Kharge criticised Modi’s personal diplomacy, stating: “Narendra Modi ji, your dear friend ‘Abki Baar, Trump Sarkar’ has imposed 50 per cent tariffs on India starting today. We will lose an estimated Rs 2.17 lakh crore as the first jolt to this tariff, across 10 sectors alone.”
He pointed to the heavy impact on farmers, particularly cotton growers, and cited data from the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) that nearly 1 percent of India’s GDP could be affected, with China likely to benefit.
The Congress leader also warned of major job losses: nearly 500,000 jobs in textiles, 150,000–200,000 in gems and jewellery, and over 100,000 workers in diamond cutting and polishing in Saurashtra. He added that the livelihoods of half-a-million shrimp farmers directly and another 2.5 million indirectly were at “grave risk.”
Kharge slammed the Modi government for mishandling foreign policy and failing to secure a trade deal with Washington. “Your smiles, hugs and selfies have hurt India’s interests. You failed to protect our economy, and now our workers and farmers are paying the price,” he said. KMS-10S
