“India will not sacrifice the interests of the country’s farmers and fishermen, come what may,” declared Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday, in what can be construed as his strongest response yet to US President Donald Trump’s new tariff war against India.
Coming close after Trump’s declaration of a “punitive” 25 percent additional tariffs on Indian exports for purchasing Russian oil, Modi’s assertion that India was ready for any eventuality and staked his personal stakes for taking the US president on. Indian exports to the United States includes agricultural products as well.
The Prime Minister’s staunch support for the country’s farming community and fisherfolk came in his address to the MS Swaminathan Centenary International Conference in Delhi.
“The interest of farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise with the interests of its farmers, livestock holders, and fishermen. And I know that I will have to pay a huge price for this personally, but I am ready. India is ready, for the sake of the country’s farmers, fishermen and livestock holders.” PM’s comments come in the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a further increase in the US tariff on Indian goods, including agricultural products to 50%.
PM paid his respects to MS Swaminathan, who is considered as the architect of the Green Revolution. The Prime Minister said, “Building on the legacy of food security, the next frontier for our agricultural scientists is ensuring nutritional security for all.” Prime Minister Modi said.
Trump Tariffs To Hit Agriculture Too
India exports a wide variety of agricultural products to the US and is one of the sectors expected to bear the brunt of Trump’s tariffs.
According to an ANI report, the US has been pressing for greater access to the Indian market during trade talks, particularly in agriculture, including corn, soybeans, and cotton. However, India has resisted opening these sectors to the US to protect its farmers from potential adverse impacts.
Earlier on Wednesday, Donald Trump signed an executive order imposing an additional 25% tariff on imports from India. He announced an additional 25 per cent ad valorem duty on top of the 25 per cent reciprocal tariffs introduced on August 1, while hinting at even steeper levies to come. “It’s only been eight hours… You’re going to see a lot more. You’re going to see significant secondary sanctions,” Trump stated. Trump had cited matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other relevant trade laws, for the increase, claiming that India’s imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the United States.
Strong Indian response
With the total tariffs on Indian exports to the US rising to 50 per cent, the Ministry of External Affairs called the move of targeting India over Russian oil imports “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable”.
“We have already made clear our position on these issues, including the fact that our imports are based on market factors and done with the overall objective of ensuring the energy security of 1.4 billion people of India. It is therefore extremely unfortunate that the US should choose to impose additional tariffs on India for actions that several other countries are also taking in their own national interest,” MEA release said, stressing that India “will take all actions necessary to protect its national interests”.
