Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday criticised US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods over New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil, describing it as “mercurial” and “unprecedented.”
Speaking at a real estate conference in Singapore, Tharoor said the move, which disregards conventional diplomatic norms, has already led to job losses across India’s export-driven sectors. “Mr Trump is a very mercurial individual, and the American system gives the President an amazing amount of leeway,” he remarked, adding that the tariffs had cost over one lakh jobs in Surat’s gems and jewellery sector, besides severely impacting seafood and manufacturing industries.
Tharoor pointed out that the 50 per cent tariff, which includes an additional 25 per cent penalty linked to Russian oil imports, amounted to sanctions rather than simple trade measures. “The imposition of additional 25 per cent is not tariff. It is actually sanctions, and it is a sanction against us for buying oil from Russia. But that’s totally unfair, because China is importing more oil and gas from Russia,” he said, urging the US to adopt a uniform policy for all countries.
The Congress MP acknowledged the difficulties Indian exporters now face in accessing the US market but expressed cautious optimism about ongoing talks. “We are finding it very difficult to get into the American market. And I am pleased to say that we are actually negotiating knowing very well that we need some access to America,” he said.
Calling for a strategic rethink, Tharoor stressed the importance of diversifying India’s export markets and global diplomatic outreach. “We also have to diversify our lines of political communication to other countries…we can’t just afford to sit there and say we have no other option,” he said, branding the US sanction policy as “completely bizarre and unsustainable.”
The Congress leader also underlined the significance of India’s broader international engagement, citing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit in China and Russian President Vladimir Putin’s upcoming visit to India. “We are essentially showing a serious intent at least to move away from confrontation conversation with China. Even though we’ve had some very, very tough times in that relationship, I think we will find ourselves trying to open up very much more for China than we have done in the last 5–6 years,” Tharoor noted.
He further took a swipe at Trump’s political style, quipping: “Have you ever heard any world leader openly saying that he deserves a Nobel Peace Prize? It never happened before.”
