India must not compromise on energy, security or strategic autonomy: Amitabh Kant on US tariffs

Kant listed several measures that could strengthen India’s long-term position

Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant has said India should stand firm in the face of the United States imposing 50 percent tariffs, stressing that the country must protect its energy needs, security, and strategic autonomy.

“India should not compromise on its energy, security or its strategic autonomy. We are here for a long-term game and we must win the long-term war,” Kant told ANI.

#WATCH | Delhi | On 50% tariffs imposed by the US on India, Former NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant says, "India should not compromise on its energy, security or its strategic autonomy. We are here for a long-term game and we must win the long-term war. We built up a relationship with… pic.twitter.com/KCUxLrImaw

— ANI (@ANI) August 14, 2025

Tariff move ‘does not stand to logic’

Kant pointed out that India’s oil imports from Russia are significantly lower than other nations. “We built up a relationship with the United States over two and a half decades, which was bipartisan in nature, and this attempt to put a 50 per cent duty does not stand to logic because we import oil but more than twice of that China imports, Turkey imports from Russia and if we do not import from Russia, then we are putting our citizens to great economic hardship,” he said.

‘India is being tested’

Calling the move a test of India’s resilience, Kant said it should act as a trigger for bold changes. “India is being tested, and it should galvanise us in a very big way. It's a once-in-a-generation opportunity to carry out very vigorous reforms across the economy,” he said.

A call for big reforms

Kant listed several measures that could strengthen India’s long-term position:

“Set our GST, make it far more easy and simple.”

“Make your personal taxes very simple.”

“Reduce the statutory liquidity ratio so that we allow more credit to flow into the economy.”

“Set right cities which can then become the centers of growth.”

“Make yourself a more innovative and research-oriented country.”

Tourism as a growth driver

Highlighting tourism as a major opportunity, Kant said, “Tourism is a massive opportunity for both growth and job creation, and we should use tourism to penetrate all global markets right now.”

He added that the tariff move “will have only a very, very minor marginal impact on the Indian economy.”