National Interest is Supreme

 

US President Donald Trump has recently announced to increase import duty on Indian goods up to 50 percent. Trump’s announcement is being discussed at various levels on international platforms. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reacted to this US sanction in very clear terms. “I will never compromise with the interests of India’s farmers, animal husbandry sector and the fishermen”, with this response, Prime Minister Modi has sent a direct message to the whole world that India will not bow to anyone’s pressure. India’s oil purchase from Russia in international trade is an objectionable issue for the US. 

The US insists that India should not buy oil from Russia. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has given a blunt reply to the Trump administration by releasing the details of the US’s purchase from Russia. The Trump administration has decided to impose a 50 percent import duty on Brazil along with India.

While discussing the sanctions imposed on India by a superpower like America, the message that the central government will not compromise with India’s interests has been given very calmly without any fuss. Industrialists like Anand Mahindra and Harsh Goenka have openly supported this stance of the Modi government. The picture that has emerged on this occasion is that the entire nation has decided not to bow down to America.

America has used its economic empire to impose sanctions on India many times before. In the very recent past, i.e. in 1998, after the Pokhran test, the then Bill Clinton administration had imposed sanctions on India. Even then, the National Democratic Alliance government led by Atal Bihari Vajpayee had not bowed down to America.

As India has become a significant player in the global political scene, various powers have consistently attempted to corner it over the last 11 years. Despite these efforts, there are no signs of India’s development momentum slowing down. As a result, pressure tactics such as increasing import restrictions are now being employed.

Donald Trump’s recent language towards India has become extremely ugly and derogatory. Prime Minister Modi has preferred to respond to this language with calm actions rather than aggressive responses. After India’s strong response to the Pahalgam massacre in the form of ‘Operation Sindoor’, the US’s stance has suddenly become anti-India.

Donald Trump had often boasted that he himself intervened to stop the conflict between India and Pakistan and brokered the ceasefire. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has also responded to that as well in a very moderate language.

The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has given a befitting reply to Trump, who announced that he is increasing import duty on India to 50 percent in order to stop the purchase of oil from Russia. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs has shown evidence that the US and the European Union are still trading with Russia.

The Trump administration is trying to penetrate a huge market like India. There is an insistence on opening up India’s agricultural sector to US imports.

The Trump administration is also trying to ensure that there is a large amount of American investment in the sectors of animal husbandry, dairy farming, and fishing. The Trump administration is taking an insistent stance to bring genetically modified crops (GM crops), corn, wheat, and ethanol to India, which can impact Indian agricultural sustainability. The ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries have made it clear what America is fighting for.

That is why Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given a clear message to the Trump administration that he will never compromise with the interests of Indian farmers, and that he is ready to pay any price for it.

India is getting crude oil from Russia at a discounted rate, which is benefiting the country, that is why we have been buying crude oil from Russia for the last 3 years. Even after the war with Ukraine, European countries have not stopped buying oil from Russia. America’s duplicity has been proven by imposing a mere 15 percent import tax on European countries that buy oil from Russia and a 50 percent import tax on India.

Trump has vented his disgust with India by stating that India’s economy is dead. Every person in India has a debt of Rs 4.8 lakh. In a country like America, there is a debt of 90 thousand 400 dollars per person which is about 80 lakhs. The Trump administration, which is striving to maintain its dominance in the global trade arena, has started a vigorous attempt to put pressure on India by increasing import tariffs.

The Trump administration has announced the increase in import duties even as trade talks between India and the US continue. One could say that the Trump administration, which is under the illusion that India will succumb to its pressure tactics, has clearly not understood the Modi government.

The industry and trade sector of the country is firmly behind the Modi government. In the last 11 years, the Modi government has focused on increasing domestic production in the sectors of defence, automobiles, electronics, and medicines to implement the concept of ‘self-reliant India’. In the last 11 years, India’s imports have been decreasing step by step and exports have been increasing significantly. While building trade relations, the role of ‘national interest is paramount’ will be maintained as a priority. This is the true identity of the new India.

 

(Article Pre-Published in Times of India Online – 11 August, 2025) 

Keshav Upadhye, Chief Spokesperson