Congress takes potshots at PM Modi’s ‘huglomacy’ says “while his (Trump’s) tariff and penalty actions are simply unacceptable, the fact remains that they also reflect the abysmal failure of Mr. Modi’s personalised and headline-grabbing style of huglomacy.”; The Congress has been taking swipes at PM Modi embracing foreign heads of state during his meetings using the term ‘huglomacy’
In a dramatic announcement before US negotiators reach India for further negotiations on trade tariffs later this month, US President Donald Trump on Wednesday slapped an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian imports, taking the total tariffs imposed on Indian goods to 50 percent.
“Today, President Donald J. Trump signed an Executive Order imposing tariffs on India in response to its continued purchase of Russian Federation oil, and establishing a process for the potential imposition of similar tariffs on other countries that directly or indirectly import oil from the Russian Federation,” according to a White House statement
“I find that the Government of India is currently directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil…Accordingly, and as consistent with applicable law, articles of India imported into the customs territory of the United States shall be subject to an additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent,” the order reads.
However, there is a little leeway, a 21-day window before the additional 25 percent strike comes.
Basically, what Trump is offering India is a small window for discussion.
“This 25 percent ad valorem duty will be effective for goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time 21 days after the date of the order. There are exceptions for goods that were loaded onto a vessel and in transit before this effective date and are entered for consumption or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption before 12:01 a.m. eastern daylight time on September 17, 2025,” the order read.
Notably, after this most of India’s competitors like Vietnam, Bangladesh will be at lower tariffs. Bangladesh has a 20 percent tariff comparable to key apparel-sector competitors like Sri Lanka, Vietnam, Pakistan, and Indonesia which range between 19 percent and 20 percent.
Calling the targeting over the purchase of Russian oil “unjustified and unreasonable”, India says it will take “all necessary measures” to safeguard its “national interests and economic security.
Congress advised a “comprehensive reset” of India’s foreign policy and administration
Congress takes potshots at PM Modi’s ‘huglomacy’
“While his (Trump’s) tariff and penalty actions are simply unacceptable, the fact remains that they also reflect the abysmal failure of Mr. Modi’s personalised and headline-grabbing style of huglomacy,” Congress leader Jairam Ramesh said, asking the Prime Minister to “shed his ego” and “take inspiration from the manner in which she (former PM Indira Gandhi) stood up to the USA.
The Congress has been taking swipes at PM Modi embracing foreign heads of state during his meetings using the term ‘huglomacy’
“India has stood up to the bullying of the US in the 1970s especially under the Prime Ministership of Smt. Indira Gandhi. Instead of defaming, distorting, and denigrating her, Mr. Modi should shed his ego–if indeed that were possible–and take inspiration from the manner in which she stood up to the USA. India’s foreign policy and administration needs a comprehensive reset,” he said
“Mr. Modi has time and again flaunted his supposedly close friendship with President Trump. On Feb 14, 2025, he had shown off his knowledge of algebra by telling President Trump that MAGA + MIGA = MEGA.
“Prime Minister Modi has kept completely quiet even as President Trump has claimed 33 times that he intervened to bring about a ceasefire between India and Pakistan.
“Now President Trump, while still claiming to be a friend of Mr. Modi, has hit India hard and unjustly. While his tariff and penalty actions are simply unacceptable, the fact remains that they also reflect the abysmal failure of Mr. Modi’s personalised and headline-grabbing style of huglomacy.”
