Clash of Rhetoric & Reality

As the US imposes 50% tariffs on $60 billion of Indian exports, the Trump-era labelling of India as the "Maharaja of Tariffs" raises bigger questions about who really owns this controversial crown in global trade politics

- SHISHIR PRIYADARSHI

When President Trump's senior advisor branded India the "Maharaja of Tariffs," the phrase instantly caught global headlines and stoked trade policy debates. It was a sharp rhetorical jab—an accusation that India protected its markets behind excessive tariffs, unfairly limiting American products while exporting freely to the United States. But in the evolving saga of trade tensions, President Trump and his administration also imposed very high tariffs and launched what could only be termed a tariff war against many countries, including India itself, with sweeping duties that reshaped global commerce in unprecedented ways.

With the latest round of Trump-era tariffs doubling on 27 August 2025 to a staggering 50% on $60 billion worth of Indian exports, the rhetorical war demands fresh scrutiny. Who deserves the real title of "Maharaja of Tariffs"—India, or the U.S., whose administration has weaponized tariffs like never before?

India's Tariffs: High but Contextual

Indeed, India has historically maintained relatively higher tariffs compared to developed economies. But these tariffs date back to India's post-independence strategy of import substitution and safeguarding domestic industry—particularly agriculture, which still engages nearly half the workforce. Tariffs served two purposes: to provide infant industry protection and to shield small farmers and fishermen against global market swings and subsidy-heavy competitors like the U.S. and EU.