Tit for tat: Shashi Tharoor wants India to match Trump's 50% tariff hike

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Thursday called on the Modi government to stand up to US President Donald Trump’s tariff offensive by imposing reciprocal duties on American goods and exploring alternative markets.

Tharoor's remarks came after Trump signed an executive order slapping an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports, on top of an existing 25 per cent, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil as the reason for the penalty.

"I think this is unjust and unfair in many ways," Tharoor said. "The allegation is that we are buying Russian oil and gas. Which we’re doing in the open market within the rules."

Calling the US move "uncalled for", Tharoor pointed out that Trump has not imposed similar punitive measures on China or the European Union, both of which maintain far greater energy trade with Moscow.

The Congress leader urged the government to retaliate by matching the tariff level and expanding trade ties beyond the US.

“We are not a nation that goes around issuing threats. But in my view, apart from diversifying to other markets, we should also make it very clear to our American friends that if they're going to apply 50 per cent [tariffs] to us, our current tariff on America, which is at an average of 17 per cent, will also go up to 50 per cent,” Tharoor said.

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