Statehood First

The reaffirmation by Hamas that it will not disarm until a fully sovereign Palestinian state is established is not simply a rejection of Israeli demands—it is a signal that the conflict's end remains hostage to incompatible political visions.

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resident Donald Trump's latest tariff salvo is not just another twist in US-India trade negotiations. It is a direct blow to India's economic prospects, export competitiveness, and policy credibility at a time when the country is trying to project itself as a resilient global player. While previous trade tensions could be seen as geopolitical pressure, the newly announced 25 per cent tariff, along with an undefined penalty for India's Russian oil and arms purchases, poses a material threat to growth and livelihoods at home. Ratings agency ICRA has already revised India's GDP growth estimate for the year from 6.5 per cent to 6.2 per cent, flagging the tariffs as a new headwind. Nomura forecasts a potential hit of 0.2 per cent to growth if the penalties are severe or sustained. The Indian stock markets echoed this concern, reacting sharply to the news—an indication that investors were anticipating a breakthrough deal, not escalation. The consequences will be felt most acutely in India's export-driven sectors. Textiles, pharmaceuticals, marine products, leather goods, and automobiles—all of which have built strong export linkages with the US—now face disruption. With buyers in America likely to renegotiate contracts to absorb part of the tariff burden, Indian exporters are staring at thinner margins and lower volumes. For India's MSMEs, which form the base of these sectors, the risk is not just financial—it is existential. This episode also exposes how vulnerable India's global positioning remains when policy ambiguity and domestic sensitivities delay reform, leaving negotiators with limited leverage in the face of targeted economic coercion. Compounding this is the missed opportunity on the global supply chain front. As firms look to diversify awa