Rahul Gandhi targets the Modi government over the US tariff deadline. In response, Piyush Goyal stated, India is now confident and will not succumb to pressure.
New Delhi: Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, recently targeted the central government over the tariff dispute with the United States. He claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi would yield to the US President Donald Trump's tariff deadline. Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, responded sharply to this. He stated that India now prioritizes its national interests and does not bow to any international pressure.
India is now a confident nation: Piyush Goyal
Piyush Goyal said that India today is a country filled with confidence, which speaks on equal terms with any country in the world. He said, "This is no longer the India that begged for agreements during the UPA regime. Now we stand with our self-respect." Goyal also added that India today makes every decision keeping in mind its long-term national interests.
Direct attack on Rahul Gandhi
The Union Minister, criticizing Rahul Gandhi, said that the public no longer takes him seriously. He said, "Rahul Gandhi and his party only spread negativity. They have not given any concrete agenda for the development of the country till date. This is why the public has repeatedly rejected them."
US tariff deadline and India's stance
The roots of the tariff dispute are linked to the additional tariffs imposed by the United States. The Trump administration had warned of increasing tariffs on some countries, including India. Specifically, there was talk of imposing a tariff increase of up to 26% on India. However, the US had postponed this decision for 90 days. This relief period is ending on July 9. In the meantime, India has made it clear that it will not enter into a trade agreement under any deadline or pressure.
Rahul Gandhi's tweet and the opposition's concern
Rahul Gandhi wrote on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter), "No matter how much Piyush Goyal beats his chest, mark my words, Modi will quietly succumb to Trump's tariff deadline." Rahul's statement came at a time when there are clear indications from the US that tariffs will be imposed if the talks are not successful.
India's trade approach
The government says that it will consider any international agreement only after considering its long-term trade interests. Piyush Goyal said that India will now take every step to protect its industries, startups, and exporters. He said, "Our trade decisions are now taken based on the economic strength of the country, and not under any global pressure."
Status of the US-India trade agreement
Talks have been going on for months between India and the US regarding a trade agreement. This includes issues related to agricultural products, medical devices, IT and technology sectors. However, differences remain between the two countries due to the tariff dispute. India wants to be recognized as a developing country and the US to give tariff concessions.
