U.S. Imposes Reciprocal Tariffs
On April 2, 2025, the U.S. imposed reciprocal tariffs, sparking criticism worldwide.
The tariffs, which were announced despite being deemed illegal under WTO rules, have been paused for 90 days except for those on China.
U.S. President Trump disregards international norms, leading to tensions with several countries.
Global Reactions to U.S. Tariffs
Countries like Singapore, Brazil, China, Japan, and Canada have condemned the U.S. for violating WTO principles, with China initiating a dispute and retaliating with its own tariffs.
Some nations, such as Fiji and Italy, have expressed dissatisfaction but stopped short of condemning the U.S. explicitly.
India, on the other hand, has remained silent, offering no direct criticism of the U.S. actions.
Reasons Behind India's Silence
India’s silence is attributed to two main factors:
Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA): India is negotiating a trade agreement with the U.S. and fears public criticism may hinder talks, even though the U.S. has openly criticized India’s own tariff levels.
WTO Dysfunctionality: The WTO dispute settlement body is currently dysfunctional, and India believes that calling out the U.S. at the WTO may be ineffective.
However, this view is challenged as international law still provides a platform to question the legitimacy of actions, even if immediate enforcement is not possible.
Need for India to Uphold Trade Multilateralism
India, often an advocate for a rule-based global trading system, missed an opportunity to join over 40 WTO member countries who supported multilateralism in response to the U.S. actions.
This moment could have positioned India as a leader in advocating for fairer global trade rules and supporting the interests of developing countries.
India should take a stand for a just and fair trading order to defend both its national interests and global trade norms.
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