CPI M Slams US Tariffs, Urges India to Resist Pressure

New Delhi: The Polit Bureau of Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Thursday strongly condemned the United States for imposing a 50 per cent tariff on Indian exports, terming it a unilateral and arbitrary move reflective of “bullying tactics” by the US administration.

In a statement issued by Polit Bureau, said the tariff hike, announced by US President Donald Trump, includes a 25 per cent levy for India’s refusal to accept all US demands during ongoing trade negotiations, and an additional 25 per cent as a penalty for India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.

“The US and the EU are attempting to arm- twist countries like India for maintaining trade relations with Russia, even as they themselves continue such trade,” the statement said.

Urging the Indian government not to succumb to pressure, the CPI M called for firm resistance to what it described as external interference in India's sovereign trade decisions. It also demanded immediate steps to safeguard the interests of Indian exporters likely to be hit by the tariffs.

The party announced plans to mobilise protests across the country against what it called "US bullying' and in defence of India's economic sovereignty.