The doubling of tariffs by the U.S., apart from being a protectionist measure prioritizing domestic industry under national security claims, poses significant challenges for India’s economy. It directly affects profitability for Indian exporters of metals such as steel and aluminum at a time when global trade faces rising uncertainties.
India’s reaction at the WTO demonstrates proactiveness but may escalate trade tensions further if retaliatory tariffs are imposed on American goods-a move that risks reciprocal actions from the other side.Strategically, it is crucial for India to diversify export markets while addressing competitive structural disadvantages faced by its manufacturers globally.
Domestically within America, experts have pointed out how this may increase material costs across manufacturing sectors like automotive and construction industries-eventually inflating consumer prices-reflecting unintended consequences of economic nationalism policies globally influencing interconnected economies like India’s.
Read More: Navbharat Times