Will India-US strategic partnership survive Trump's tariff assault?

It was not realized that Trump, an injured political leader since his defeat in the 2020 presidential election, would emerge as a vindictive and revengeful administrator after winning the 2024 presidential election.

- CHINTAMANI MAHAPATRA

President Donald Trump has waged a tariff war against India questioning the basic tenets of India-US strategic partnership constructed painstakingly through tough negotiations for over about two and a half decades.

While congratulating himself for promoting seven ceasefires between warring parties in about seven months of his second administration and saving precious lives, he seems oblivious of the negative impact of his tariff policy on hundreds of thousands of labourers who will lose jobs. He also seems to care less about the economic cost of his tariff on American consumers and companies.

Besides the social impact of his 50% tariff on Indian exports, his threats of tariff on products made in India by US companies, such as Apple Inc., his merciless handling of issues related to undocumented immigrants, his unthoughtful H1B visa policy, and his attack on the US education system that would deprive thousands of Indian students an opportunity to study in the US will affect lives of innocent people.

President Trump has launched a tariff war against practically every country in the world, including India. This is perfectly understandable. But the secondary tariff that he has imposed on India for buying Russian oil is illogical, illegal and amounts to an undeclared economic war against India. This threatens India's energy security and obstructs economic growth, while serving no purpose. It can neither force Russia to declare a ceasefire and end the Ukraine War, nor can it benefit the US except satisfying the American President's ego that he could bulldoze India into following his diktat.