Amid escalating tensions between New Delhi and Washington, former diplomat Vikas Swarup has outlined three possible reasons why the United States President
Donald Trump imposed a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods, the highest in the world, alongside Brazil. The former Indian diplomat, while speaking to ANI, said that the US tariffs on India are not isolated trade measures, but possibly a part of a calculated mix of economic pressure tactics and geopolitical signalling. Swarup told ANI that there could be possibly three reasons behind Trump's decision to impose sweeping tariffs on India - BRICS membership, dismissing the US President's ceasefire claims during Operation Sindoor, and using trade pressure to push New Delhi into accepting Washington’s trade demands. "We have to understand why these tariffs have been imposed. I personally feel that there are three reasons. One, Trump is not happy with India because we are a member of BRICS, and somehow, in his head, he has got this notion that BRICS is an anti-America alliance which is hell-bent on creating an alternative currency to the dollar. So, because of that, he feels that India should not be a member of the BRICS," Swarup told the news agency in an interview.
The second reason could be India dismissing Trump's claims of finalising a ceasefire between India and Pakistan after the three-day clash in May. Swarup pointed out that Pakistan has nominated Trump for a Nobel Peace Prize over the same, adding that Trump has made no secret of his longing for the Nobel Peace Prize.
Swarup, further, described the tariff hikes as part of a broader "pressure tactic to secure a more favourable deal." "...This is part of his pressure tactics to get India to sign on the dotted line on the maximalist demands that the US is making with regard to access to our dairy and agriculture and GM Crops," he told. "India should not cave in because our strategic autonomy is non-negotiable," he added.
Trump has imposed a staggering 50 per cent tariff on India, 25 per cent levy, topped with a 25 per cent penalty for continued purchase of Russian oil. The tariff announcement came as Washington and New Delhi were engaged in negotiations for a bilateral trade deal.
As India and the US were negotiating a bilateral trade deal, Washington was pushing duty concessions on certain industrial goods, automobiles, especially electric vehicles, wines, petrochemical products, and agri goods, dairy items, apples, tree nuts, and genetically modified crops. However, New Delhi, which is sensitive about these sectors, has never opened these and seeks to maintain the same.
India has called Trump's actions "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable," with Prime Minister Narendra Modi categorically stating that India "will not compromise" and "is ready to pay the price for the same." "For us, the interest of our farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. I know we will have to pay a heavy price for it. Today, India is ready for the country's farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers..." PM Modi said.
