New Delhi [India], August 26 : Reacting to the increase of tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent, Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday stated that the fallout of the "very strange" foreign policy was being looked at, further stating that just rhetoric would not suffice.
"We all are watching the fallout of the very strange foreign policy we have had. Let's see how the government will respond to this. Rhetoric would not suffice," Khera told ANI.
Raising questions at the government's economic policies, Khera stated that the demonetisation and Goods and Service Tax (GST) had destroyed the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) completely.
"How do people buy made in India products when you have destroyed the MSME sector completely. Where there is no manufacturing, you ask us to buy Indian things. Your demonetisation, GST and policies destroyed it," he further stated.
Earlier in the day, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) issued a draft notice on the implementation of additional duties on products imported from India, following the announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump to increase tariffs on Indian goods to 50 per cent.
As per the notice issued, additional tariffs will be imposed in order to give effect to the President's Executive Order 14329 of August 6, 2025, titled "Addressing Threats to the United States by the Government of the Russian Federation."
The order specified a new rate of duty on imports of articles that are products of India. The draft notice, scheduled to be published on August 27, 2025, states that the Secretary of Homeland Security has determined it necessary to modify the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States (HTSUS) in line with the executive order.
The CBP further clarified that the new duties will come into effect on August 27, 2025. From 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on that day, the higher tariffs will apply to all products of India that are either entered for consumption in the United States or withdrawn from warehouses for consumption.