NEW DELHI, India — India will not "bow down" and instead focus on capturing new markets, trade minister Piyush Goyal said in his first public remarks since Washington imposed steep tariffs on Indian goods.
The 50-percent levies on many Indian imports into the United States took effect this week as punishment for New Delhi's massive purchases of Russian oil, part of US efforts to pressure Moscow into ending its war in Ukraine.
Since his return to the White House this year, US President Donald Trump has wielded tariffs as a wide-ranging policy tool, with the levies upending global trade.
Speaking at a construction industry event in New Delhi on Friday, Goyal said India was "always ready if anyone wants to have a free trade agreement with us."
But, he added, India "will neither bow down nor ever appear weak."
"We will continue to move together and capture new markets."
The latest tariff salvo from Trump has strained US-India ties, with New Delhi earlier criticising the levies as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable."
Trade talks between the two countries have stumbled over agriculture and dairy markets.
Trump wants greater US access, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined to shield India's farmers, a huge voter bloc.
The US was India's top export destination in 2024, with shipments worth .3 billion., This news data comes from:http://nquy-icg-wvau-ecb.xs888999.com
But analysts have cautioned that a 50-percent duty is akin to a trade embargo and is likely to harm smaller firms.
Exporters of textiles, seafood and jewelry have already reported cancelled US orders and losses to rivals such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, raising fears of heavy job cuts.
Goyal said the government would be coming out with several measures in the coming days to support every sector and boost exports.
India will not 'bow down,' trade minister says after US tariffs
"I can say with confidence that India's exports this year will exceed 2024-25 numbers," he said.
India will not 'bow down,' trade minister says after US tariffs
- PH doesn't recognize Taiwan as sovereign state, stands by 'One China Policy' -- Foreign Affairs chief
- Philippines calls for Gaza ceasefire amid humanitarian crisis
- Marcos names Dizon as DPWH secretary
- Police general suspended for ‘obstruction’ of evidence in case of missing sabungeros
- Macron says 26 countries pledge troops as a reassurance force for Ukraine after war ends
- US warship heading toward Caribbean Sea
- Marcos suspends importation of regular, well-milled rice for 60 days
- North Korea's Kim Jong Un travels to Beijing to watch military parade alongside Putin, Xi Jinping
- Famed streetcar in Lisbon, Portugal, derails and crashes, killing 15 people
- Dizon to abolish DPWH internal special investigation team created to look into the flood control anomalies
