Dear Mr. Donald Trump,
Your tariff policies are shaking the world like a bhelpuri cart in a storm. India, a land of 1.4 billion dreamers, watches in dismay as your 25% tariffs—and a looming, unspecified penalty, slash into our exports. On August 1, 2025, you signed an executive order imposing these duties, pointing fingers at India’s Russian oil buys. This is no mere trade measure; it is a political dhamaka. Yet India refuses to dance to your tune. Your reckless moves threaten global stability, hit loyal allies, and betray the leadership expected from a US president. As an Indian, I say it plainly: your tariffs are unfair, your logic flawed, and your vision dangerously narrow.
Let’s talk numbers. In 2024, US-India trade reached $190 billion. India shipped $87 billion worth of goods including textiles, gems, medicines, auto parts to the US. Your tariffs threaten 55% of these exports, warned the Federation of Indian Export Organisations. That means jobs, livelihoods, and dreams dangling by a thread. An Indian bank forecasts serious harm to sectors like garments, leather, and electronics. Morgan Stanley estimates India’s GDP could drop by 60 basis points if tariffs soar to 50%. That’s $23 billion wiped off an economy you once called a “friend.” Meanwhile, you label India’s economy “dead” on Truth Social. Sach mein, Trump, is this how you treat friends?
Your main complaint? India’s oil imports from Russia. You say we are “fuelling the Russian war machine.” Let’s set the record straight. India buys 35-40% of its oil from Russia because we import 85% of our crude. After Western sanctions cut supply post-Ukraine invasion, India stepped in to secure affordable energy. Your own administration once praised this as stabilising global markets. Now you flip the script. The US itself imported $3.5 billion in Russian goods in 2024, including uranium and palladium. Hypocrisy much? India’s Ministry of External Affairs called your criticism “unjustified and unreasonable.” We are not financing wars; we are ensuring energy security for millions.
This tariff blitz is not really about fixing trade deficits. It’s a geopolitical tamasha. You have targeted India for pursuing an independent foreign policy. Our stable ties with Russia are not a betrayal; they are decades in the making. We stand firm on national interests, refusing to open agriculture and dairy markets because 50% of our population depends on these livelihoods. Your push for US farmers to flood our market ignores our farmers’ struggles. In 2021, India repealed farm laws after protests. You want us to risk that again? No ways! India won’t bow to economic blackmail.
Your first term was a trailer for this chaos. In 2018, you imposed 25% tariffs on steel and 10% on aluminium, prompting India to retaliate with $240 million in duties on US goods. Experts at the time warned trade wars would hurt America more. Prices of US intermediate goods rose 10-30%, hitting consumers hard. Yet, here you are, recycling the same script. History is repeating—at what cost?
In a CNBC interview on August 5, 2025, you doubled down, calling India the “highest tariff nation” and threatening a “substantial” hike within 24 hours. India’s average tariff rate is 17%, higher than the US’s 3.3%, but lower than countries like Brazil. You ignore India’s tariff reductions on bourbon, motorcycles, and more. Your “reciprocal tariff” logic is elusive. The US runs a $45.8 billion trade deficit with India, but bilateral trade was heading for $500 billion. Why sabotage a win-win opportunity? Your deal slashing Pakistan’s tariffs to 19%, while India’s face 25%, looks like a deliberate snub. Why, Mr. President, why?
You paint India as a villain profiteering from Russian oil, ignoring global realities. When Brent crude prices reached $137 a barrel in 2022, India’s Russian imports helped steady prices. American consumers benefited. Now you punish us for it. Indian refiners like Indian Oil are cutting Russian crude to dodge your wrath. But at what cost? Your threat of secondary sanctions echoes heavy-handed tactics seen with Venezuela. It’s bullying, not leadership. India vows to protect its interests, as our foreign ministry stated firmly on August 6, 2025.
Your tariff war risks triggering a global recession. J.P. Morgan forecasts US economic contraction if your tariffs persist. A 50% tariff could cost India $5 billion in textile exports alone. Gems and jewellery risk a $3 billion blow. Small businesses, which employ millions, will suffer most. Anand Mahindra called this “global manthan”, a churning with potential amrit for India. But why force this turmoil? Your policies alienate allies, disrupt supply chains, and raise inflation. The Centre for Strategic and International Studies warns US consumers will pay dearly for this. Your “MAGA” chant forgets we live in a global village.
India is not your only target. You hit Canada with 35% tariffs, Brazil with 50%, and so on. Yet you exempt some nations conveniently and cut deals with others. This is not strategy; it’s caprice. India is negotiating, with talks set for August 25, 2025. We want a fair deal, not a diktat. On August 7, 2025, Prime Minister Modi said, “India will never compromise on farmers’ interests.” Rahul Gandhi called your tariffs “economic blackmail.” Even your own supporters admit India’s Russian oil imports aren’t unique. Why single us out?
Your Nobel Peace Prize talk puzzles many. Tariffs don’t bring peace, they spark conflict. Your claim to end the Ukraine war in 24 hours fizzled. Instead, you are fracturing alliances. India stands firm. We call out your double standards clearly, as our foreign ministry did on August 6. The US trades with Russia too, uranium, fertilisers, gas. Why the moral posturing? India’s economy grows robustly at 6.6%, says IMF, not “dead” as you lauded. Your tariffs may pinch us by 0.2% GDP, but our spirit remains unbroken.
Trump, your business instincts override global responsibility. Your first term unleashed trade wars, not peace. This term, you go harder. India deserves respect, not punishment. We are sovereign, not your pawn. Withdraw these tariffs. Negotiate fairly. The world craves stability, not your chaos brand. India is ready for dialogue but not at the cost of dignity or common sense. Let’s build bridges, not walls. The ball is in your court.
With resolve,
An Indian forever
