US Democrats Slam Trump’s 50% Tariff on India, Modi Hits Back With Defiant Stand

New Delhi: The political storm over trade escalated on Friday as US President Donald Trump’s decision to slap a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods drew sharp criticism from the Democratic members of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee. The panel denounced the move as counterproductive, insisting it would neither weaken Russian President Vladimir Putin nor end the ongoing Ukraine war.

“Tariffing India won’t stop Putin. If Trump really wanted to address Russia’s illegal invasion of Ukraine, he should punish Putin directly and provide Ukraine with the military aid it needs. Everything else is smoke and mirrors,” the committee’s Democratic wing said in a statement.

The criticism came in the backdrop of US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent’s stern warning to India regarding secondary tariffs linked to its Russian oil trade. Speaking to Bloomberg, Bessent noted that future tariff hikes hinged on the outcome of Trump’s recently concluded high-stakes talks with Putin in Alaska. Describing the meeting as “productive,” he hinted that Washington was keeping further punitive measures ready.

“We’ve put secondary tariffs on Indians for buying Russian oil. If things don’t go well, sanctions or tariffs could rise. Everyone has been frustrated with Putin, but it looks like he may now be ready to negotiate,” Bessent said. Asked about Beijing’s massive crude imports from Moscow, he declined to spell out specifics, only adding, “I won’t get ahead of the president. He is the best at creating leverage for himself, and he will make it clear to President Putin that all options remain on the table.”

Trump’s tariff escalation — from 25 per cent to 50 per cent on Indian exports — marks the steepest hike under his new trade regime, rivaled only by measures against Brazil. The move threatens to hurt India’s key export sectors, particularly textiles and marine products, sparking sharp condemnation in New Delhi. Indian officials described the decision as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.”

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, while addressing the fallout, struck a defiant tone and placed farmers, fishermen, and cattle rearers at the heart of India’s resistance to US pressure.

“The interest of farmers is our top priority. India will never compromise with the interests of its farmers, livestock holders and fishermen. I know I will have to pay a huge price personally, but I am ready to do so. India is ready, for the sake of the country’s farmers, fishermen and livestock holders,” Modi declared.