New Delhi – India will not “bow down” to pressure from Washington and will instead work on expanding its global trade footprint, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal declared on Friday in his first response to the latest US tariff hike.
The minister’s remarks came after the United States imposed 50% tariffs on a wide range of Indian imports earlier this week. The punitive measures were introduced as part of Washington’s efforts to penalize New Delhi for its continued large-scale purchases of Russian oil, a move the US says undermines international pressure on Moscow to end its war in Ukraine.
Since returning to the White House this year, President Donald Trump has increasingly used tariffs as a strategic policy tool, sparking trade disputes with multiple countries and reshaping global commerce. India has now become the latest target of this strategy, with its exports facing a steep cost barrier in the American market.
Addressing a construction industry event in New Delhi, Goyal said India would not be deterred by the tariffs. “India is always ready if anyone wants to have a free trade agreement with us,” he added, stressing that the country would look to capture new markets and strengthen partnerships with willing trade partners, rather than yield to US pressure.
The comments reflect New Delhi’s determination to project resilience in the face of mounting trade friction with Washington, while signaling that India intends to diversify its global trade relations amid a rapidly shifting geopolitical and economic landscape.
Leave a comment