Tariff war can be a catalyst for bilateral trade pacts

The global tariff war started by the US can make India look favourably at bilateral trade agreements, which would help bring in new global products and the latest technology to the domestic market, says Piyush Arora, MD and CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVIPL).

- Piyush Arora, MD & CEO, Skoda Auto Volkswagen India (SAVIPL)

Speaking with Swaraj Baggonkar on the sidelines of the launch of the Volkswagen Tiguan R-Line in Mumbai, Arora further says the company will go ahead with its proposed ₹12,000-crore investment plan in Maharashtra.

Does the global tariff war impact your operations?

India, for the VW group, is a strategic market. The market is the third-largest in the world, and therefore, it is important for us to bring in products that are developed and manufactured locally before finding ways to sell it internationally. At the same time, being a global company, we are always proponents of free trade so that we are able to bring in our global products which will bring global technology to the country. Tariffs in no way help this process.

Do you see any challenges due to the tariff war?