The bipartisan appeal, led by Democratic Congress members with significant Indian American constituencies, addressed a letter to President Donald Trump, requesting him to take swift measures to amend America’s relations with India. 19 lawmakers from the Democratic Party, including Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Pramila Jayapal, Suhas Subramanyam wrote to President Trump admonishing him about the impact the deteriorating relations between the two nations. The letter addressed to the President read “recent actions by your administration have strained relations with the world’s largest democracy, creating negative consequences for both countries.”
The lawmakers specified about the tariffs on Indian goods which were raised to as high as 50 per cent, combining initial 25 per cent “reciprocal” tariffs with an additional 25 per cent duty as a response to India’s energy purchases from Russia. They further highlighted as an effect to the punitive measures there was a negative impact on the Indian manufacturers as well as the American consumers due to the high increment in prices. They stated that as result these actions are “damaging the intricate supply chains that American companies depend on”.
The group stressed on the significance of the US-India economic relationship which supports “hundreds of thousands of jobs in both countries.” While the American manufacturers depend on India for key inputs in sectors from semiconductors to healthcare and energy, the Indian investments in the US have also opened employment opportunities across American communities.
The letter also mentioned how the punitive actions will expectedly make India draw closer to “regimes hostile to the United States, including China and Russia”, which would be contrary to Washington’s strategic interests. Focusing on India as “a stabilising force in the Indo-Pacific” and “a vital partner in defence cooperation,” mentioning its role in the Quad alliance alongside the US, Australia, and Japan, the letter called for resetting the US-India partnership.
“The United States and India share democratic traditions that set us apart from our authoritarian competitors,” the lawmakers wrote, stressing that cooperation between the two nations demonstrates how “free and open societies can prosper through mutual respect.” The lawmakers have called to “reaffirm America’s commitment to India”, calling for a “recalibration, not confrontation”, in the relationship.
More on US-India tariffs:
US-India relations on hold?: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/us-india-relations-on-hold/
7 months of confusion – the even more perplexing US foreign policy: https://www.thestrategicperspective.org/7-months-of-confusion-the-even-more-perplexing-us-foreign-policy/
