‘Unfortunate’: BJP Reacts To Trump Tariff, Opposition Asks ‘Is This Friendship’ | Politics News

Last Updated:July 30, 2025, 20:02 IST

Opposition parties, however, blasted the Narendra Modi-led Centre saying the tariff announcement is a “foreign policy fail”

US President Donald Trump has announced a 25% tariff on India from August 1. (Image: Reuters/File)

The BJP on Wednesday said it is “unfortunate” that the Trump administration has imposed a 25 percent tariff on India from August 1, suggesting that such a decision may not have been borne out of consensus.

Praveen Khandelwal, BJP MP and general secretary of the Confederation of All India Traders (CAIT), said the central government will take “appropriate action” in the matter. 

“This is unfortunate and I am sure that the Government of India will take appropriate steps in this regard. Trade and industry will depend on what the Government of India decides,” Khandelwal told reporters.

“… I dont think President Trump’s decision comes after a consensus or a mutual discussion. Our minister of commerce was in regular touch with the US administration… Any scope of appeal or discussion must be duly addressed so that India doesn’t face any losses,” BJP MP Ashok Chavan, reacting to the announcement.

The opposition, however, pounced on the opportunity to blast the Centre saying the tariff announcement is a “foreign policy fail”. 

The Congress, which was among the first to react, taunted the Narendra Modi-led Centre by saying India is “paying the price” of the Prime Minister’s “friendship” with US President Donald Trump.

“Trump has imposed a 25% tariff on India, along with a penalty. The country is paying the price for Narendra Modi’s ‘friendship.’,” (sic) the Congress said in a post on X. “Modi campaigned for Trump, hugged him enthusiastically, got photos taken and made them trend on social media. In the end, Trump slapped tariffs on India. India’s foreign policy has completely failed.”

Trump’s announcement came amid signs of some stalemate in the ongoing negotiations between India and the US on a bilateral trade deal. He listed India’s high tariffs, its procurement of “vast majority” of military equipment and energy from Russia as well as “obnoxious non-monetary trade barriers”.

He said India will be paying a “tariff of 25 percent plus a penalty” from August 1, adding that “we have a massive trade deficit with India”. He, however, described India as a “friend” and said the two countries have done “relatively little business” because of India’s tariffs that he said are “among the highest” in the world.

ALSO READ | Trump Imposes 25%+ Tariff On India From August 1: How It Compares Globally, What It Means For Trade

WHAT DID OPPOSITION PARTIES SAY?

Congress communications incharge Jairam Ramesh made a “Howdy Modi” barb at the government, mentioned Trump’s infamous lunch meeting with Pakistan army chief Field Marshal Asim Munir, and even advised Modi to take “inspiration” from late prime minister Indira Gandhi and “stand up to the US President”.

“President Trump has slapped a tariff of 25% plus penalty on imports from India. All that taarif between him and Howdy Modi has meant little. Mr. Modi thought that if he kept quiet on the insults that the US President has hurled on India — the 30 claims of stopping Op Sindoor, the special lunch for the Pakistan Army Chief whose inflammatory remarks provided the immediate backdrop to the brutal Pahalgam terror attacks, and US support for financial packages to Pakistan from the IMF and the World Bank — India would get special treatment at the hands of President Trump. Clearly that has NOT happened. He should take inspiration from Indira Gandhi and stand up to the US President,” Ramesh wrote on X.

Congress MP Rajiv Shukla said: “This is a really wrong step by the US. The government considers Trump a friend, but he has actually slapped us; Indian businessmen will suffer due to this. We will raise all issues in Parliament…when there is so much friendship (between India-US) then why is Donald Trump troubling India?”

Other parties, including the Aam Aadmi Party, Samajwadi Party, and Shiv Sena (UBT), also had much to say about the tariff announcement. Condemning it, they urged the Prime Minister to make India’s next move clear.

“… He is insulting India every day, apart from tariff threats; he has even threatened Apple against manufacturing iPhones in India. He has even gone on to say that he loves Pakistan and India should think about it. PM Narendra Modi should strongly oppose this move and make his next step clear,” AAP MP Sanjay Singh told news agency ANI.

Samajwadi Party MP Anand Bhadauria said: “…US imposing tariffs on India is condemnable…the PM’s speech yesterday was disappointing, not just in terms of tariffs but also on the ceasefire matter.”

“Howdy Modi was happening, is this friendship? They prioritise their country, they say ‘America First’, they are taking steps regarding higher education… With all this, there would be a stop to brain drain. Only romanticism is happening… It will create a problem for the GoI,” Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Arvind Sawant said.

Oindrila Mukherjee

Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st…Read More

Oindrila Mukherjee is a senior sub-editor who works for the rewrite and breaking news desks. Her nine years of experience in print and digital journalism range from editing and reporting to writing impactful st… Read More

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