'India should have imposed 100% tariffs on US imports': Arvind Kejriwal reacts to Trump's 50% duties

Arvind Kejriwal

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday said that New Delhi should have imposed a 100 per cent tariff on American products in a retaliatory move against Trump administration's order to impose an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian goods.

Speaking to the media, Kejriwal said:  "If US President Donald Trump has imposed a 50% tariff, we should impose a 100% tariff on America. Are we a weak nation? This is a country of 140 crore people. We have a huge market.

Elaborating on the economic distress caused by the US' 50 per cent tariff on Indian products, Kejriwal said the country is suffering on two fronts-- firstly, the imposition of stiff tariffs has crippled domestic industries, secondly, Modi government's latest decision to extend the import duty exemption on cotton to December 31. The AAP leader said the decision to extend the import duty exemption will have disastrous impact on the economy.

Stating that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision could prove detrimental to India's farmers, the AAP chief demanded that the government impose higher tariffs on US imports. Kejriwal added  that other countries did not bow down, instead imposed higher tariffs, and India should do the same. “No country can afford to offend India. We are a nation of 140 crore people," he further added.

"India used to impose 11 per cent duty on cotton imported from America. This meant that the American cotton was costlier than homegrown cotton. But the Modi government has decided to waive off this duty from August 19 till September 30. This means that textile industries will get cheaper cotton,” Kejriwal said in the conference. He claimed that when cotton enters the market for sale in October, there will be few buyers.