India to safeguard national interests amid Trump’s 25% tariff order: Commerce minister Piyush Goyal
Piyush Goyal assures Lok Sabha that all necessary steps will be taken to protect country's economic and strategic interests
PTC Web Desk: India is closely monitoring the implications of the recently announced US trade tariffs, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal assuring the Lok Sabha that all necessary steps will be taken to protect the country's economic and strategic interests.
Speaking in Parliament on Thursday, Goyal said the Centre was assessing the impact of the 25% tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump on Indian exports, effective August 1. The new trade measures also include penalties related to India’s continued energy and defence engagements with Russia.
Goyal detailed the timeline of the tariff implementation, noting that President Trump issued an executive order on April 2, 2025, introducing a 10% baseline duty effective from April 5. This was followed by a country-specific additional tariff of 16%, bringing India’s total tariff exposure to 26%. While the full tariff was scheduled for implementation by April 9, it was initially delayed by 90 days and later extended to August 1.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump justified the move by criticising India’s high tariff structure and non-tariff barriers, calling them among the "most strenuous and obnoxious" globally. He also cited India’s continued military and energy ties with Russia, stating that the US must respond firmly as part of its broader foreign policy stance regarding the Ukraine conflict.
The Indian Ministry of Commerce, responding to the development, said it had taken note of President Trump’s statements and was reviewing the potential consequences for the domestic economy.
“We are evaluating the impact of the decision and are committed to safeguarding the interests of our farmers, MSMEs, and industries,” the official statement released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said.
The ministry further reiterated India’s ongoing efforts to finalise a fair and balanced trade agreement with the US, emphasising that any trade decisions will prioritise the country's sovereign and economic interests, similar to its approach in recent pacts like the Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) with the UK.