India vows to defend red lines as US tariffs loom over trade ties
India’s foreign minister has pledged to safeguard the country’s economic interests as Washington prepares to impose a second wave of steep tariffs on Indian exports.
Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said Saturday that while negotiations with the United States remain ongoing, New Delhi will protect its “red lines,” particularly those involving farmers and small producers.
The remarks come as Indian goods face additional levies of up to 50 percent — among the harshest ever imposed by Washington — in response to New Delhi’s rising imports of Russian oil. A 25 percent duty is already in effect, with another 25 percent set to begin on August 27.
A planned visit by US trade negotiators to New Delhi later this month was canceled, further clouding prospects for a breakthrough. Earlier talks collapsed when India refused to open its agricultural and dairy markets, long-standing points of contention.
Jaishankar defended India’s energy policy, calling US criticism of Russian oil purchases selective. “If the argument is oil, there are bigger buyers. If the argument is who is trading more with Russia, there are bigger traders,” he said, pointing to China and the EU.
Analysts warn the tariffs could deal a serious blow to India’s economy. Capital Economics estimates the measures could shave 0.8 percentage points off annual GDP growth in both 2025 and 2026, while also undermining the country’s bid to position itself as a global manufacturing hub.
