Congress leader Shashi Tharoor described Trump as an unusual president. He said that America's tariffs have led to the loss of 1.35 lakh jobs in Surat. India needs to find new export markets to mitigate the damage.
Shashi Tharoor: Senior Congress leader and Member of Parliament, Shashi Tharoor, responded to US President Donald Trump at a conference organized by CREDAI, the apex industry body for real estate in India, in Singapore. Tharoor stated that Trump certainly displays volatile behavior in diplomacy and does not adhere to traditional diplomatic standards. He clarified that Trump's behavior is not limited to the US but also impacts India and other countries.
Tharoor explained that the US has imposed a 50 percent tariff on India, resulting in the loss of approximately 1.35 lakh jobs in Surat's gem and jewelry industry, seafood, and manufacturing sectors. Consequently, India needs to seek new export markets to reduce the damage.
Trump's Unusual Behavior and its Impact on Diplomacy
Tharoor said that Mr. Trump's temperament is extremely capricious and that the President in the American system has excessive latitude. He stated in his address, "There have been 44 or 45 presidents before him, but none have behaved in such a manner in the White House." Tharoor described Trump as an unusual president by all standards and said that the US President certainly does not respect traditional norms of diplomatic conduct.
Tharoor gave an example, asking if anyone has heard a world leader claim they deserve the Nobel Peace Prize or that all countries want to pat them on the back. He said that Trump described the economies of India and Russia as "dead economies," and such language has never been heard from any Head of State before.
Damage to the Indian Economy due to Trump's Tariffs
Tharoor revealed that the tariffs imposed by Trump have had a very negative impact on India. Approximately 1.35 lakh people have lost their jobs in Surat's gem and jewelry industry, seafood, and manufacturing sectors. He warned that if Indian businesses do not take swift action to find new markets, further damage will occur.
Tharoor said, "I don't want anyone to be under the illusion that we will just wave this away. The initial 25 percent tariff has made exports of many products unviable, and the additional penalties have made entry into the US market with low-tariff Indian competitors almost impossible."
Concerns over Sanction Policy and America's Volatile Stance
Tharoor also expressed concern over the US sanction policy. He stated that the US should adopt a uniform policy for every country purchasing oil from Russia. The current sanction policy appears entirely bizarre and unstable. He warned that no matter how successful India's negotiations are, Indian businesses will face significant challenges as long as the sanctions are not lifted.
India Needs to Diversify Export Markets
Tharoor said that India needs to diversify its export markets. He noted that the recent trade agreement with Britain is a positive step in this direction. This will boost India's exports and help mitigate the impact of US tariffs. He appealed to the industry and the government to take proactive steps to find new markets and increase production.
Example of Job Losses in Surat
Tharoor clarified that approximately 1.35 lakh people have lost their jobs in Surat's gem and jewelry industry. Additionally, the seafood and manufacturing sectors have also suffered losses. He said that this is only the initial impact and that the damage could increase if India does not diversify its export markets.
