The TOI correspondent from Washington: Asserting that the punitive tariff measure he has imposed on India is creating “negative consequences” for both countries, a group of 21 American lawmakers on Wednesday urged President Trump to “repair and reset” ties with New Delhi, cautioning that his actions risk upending strategic US priorities. In a letter to the US President sent on Wednesday, the lawmakers warned that his actions have pushed the Indian government to increase its diplomatic and economic engagement with “regimes hostile to the United States, including China and Russia.” “This development is particularly concerning in light of India’s growing importance as a stabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific through its participation in The Quad (in conjunction with the US, Australia, and Japan) and its indispensable role as a counterweight to China’s growing assertiveness,” the 21 House members said.
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Signatories to the letter, all Democrats, including five members of the so-called “Samosa caucus,” including Ro Khanna of California, Pramila Jayapal of Washington state, Raja Krishnamoorthy of Illinois, Shri Thanedar of Michigan, and Suhas Subramanyam of Virginia. Other signees include California’s Brad Sherman, Eric Swalwell, Jimmy Panetta, Sydney Kamlager-Dove, Sam T Liccardo; Illinois’ Jan Schakowsky and Jonathan Jackson; North Carolina’s Deborah Ross and Valerie Foushee; Texas’ Marc A. Veasey and Julie Jackson. They typically represent urban and suburban districts “with large, vibrant Indian-American communities that maintain strong familial, cultural, and economic ties to India,” as their letter put it. Several commentators from India have panned Indian-Americans for not speaking up for the ties and the letter appears to be a result of lobbying by the community although the outcome is uncertain in a MAGA-infused dispensation. In a critique of Trump’s trade policy that has resulted in India being singled out for 50 percent tariff, the lawmakers argued that while the punitive measures have hurt Indian manufacturers, it is simultaneously raising prices for American consumers and damaging the intricate supply chains that American companies depend on to bring products to market. Furthermore, US trading partnership with India is “exceptionally important,” supporting hundreds of thousands of jobs in both countries, they asserted. American manufacturers depend on India for key inputs in sectors from semiconductors to health care, energy and more. American firms investing in India also gain access to one of the fastest-growing consumer markets in the world, while Indian companies have invested billions of dollars here in America, helping to create new jobs and opportunities in the communities we represent, they said. “This indiscriminate tariff escalation jeopardizes these ties, raising costs for American families, undermining the ability of American companies to compete globally, and undercutting ground-breaking innovation and cooperation,” the letter argued.The letter also underlined that India has become a vital partner in defense cooperation, conducting joint military exercises with U.S. forces and working constructively with America and its allies to secure vital maritime routes. “Given the depth and breadth of US–India cooperation – spanning defense, regional security, energy markets, innovation, and supply chain resilience – it is critical that our nation reaffirm its commitment to India. Strategically, economically, and reputationally, we strongly believe the path forward demands recalibration, not confrontation,” the letter said, urging Trump to take the appropriate steps to restore the relationship, beginning with a review of tariff policy and continued dialogue with the Indian leadership.
