New Delhi [India], August 7 : After US President Donald Trump announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods, Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi called it "hypocrisy".
She said Trump is unfairly targeting India for buying oil from Russia, while the US, EU, China, and Turkey continue to trade with Russia as well.
Chaturvedi said India won't be bullied into any trade deal and will always protect its national interest and sovereignty.
Speaking to ANI, Priyanka Chaturvedi said, "The way Donald Trump is particularly targeting India about Russian Oil, totally forgetting his own hypocrisy of doing trade with Russia, EU's trade with Russia, and also China's trade with Russia, and even Turkey has been a big buyer of Russian oil. To specifically target India speaks more about some reason why he wishes to bully India into submission to the trade deal. India will keep its national interest, strategic relationships, as well as sovereignty above everything else. It is well within our rights to respond the way we have to. We cannot be bullied into a deal."
Chaturvedi said the new US tariffs will hurt Indian exporters and make products too costly for American buyers.
She said India will not bow to pressure and will always protect its national interest.
"However, the question does arise as to what retaliatory measures we are going to take into consideration. Many of our exporters are going to be impacted by this tariff, making Indian goods unreachable and not viable for American consumers... While we want talks on trade and he is looking to trade, he is busy meeting the likes of Asim Munir once again and handing over more and more loans to them. This hypocrisy will make the people of India question America's intent... EU's trade with Russia is way more than India's, so particularly targeting India is a way to arm-twist India into a deal. We will not bow down or kneel down in front of any country if it harms India's national interest," Chaturvedi said.
On August 6, US President Donald Trump signed an Executive Order imposing an additional 25 per cent tariff on imports from India.
According to the order issued by the White House, Trump cited matters of national security and foreign policy concerns, as well as other relevant trade laws, for the increase, claiming that India's imports of Russian oil, directly or indirectly, pose an "unusual and extraordinary threat" to the United States.
After the order, the total tariff on Indian goods will be 50 per cent.
While the initial duty becomes effective on August 7, the additional levy will come into effect after 21 days and will be imposed on all Indian goods imported into the US, except for goods already in transit or those meeting specific exemptions.