Karti Chidambaram Links Trump’s 50 Per Cent Tariff On India To Pakistan Army’s Commercial Influence

Congress MP Karti Chidambaram has dismissed US President Donald Trump's stated reason for imposing a staggering 50 per cent tariff on Indian imports—India's oil trade with Russia—as mere pretext, alleging a "far more sinister reason" involving the Pakistan Army's influence.

"This 50 per cent tariff on India is not just because we are trading with Russia. The EU and the US itself trade with Russia... There is a far more sinister reason for this, and I believe that the Pakistan Army, through its commercial corporations, has a very strong commercial relationship, perhaps with the Trump administration," Chidambaram was quoted as saying by news agency ANI.

The tariffs, escalating from an initial 25 per cent to a total 50 per cent this week, target India's continued purchase of Russian oil to pressure Moscow over Ukraine.

Chidamabaram said that Munir is going to the US for the second time, which is unprecedented, and added that "he [Trump] is definitely not acting as a friend of India...".

He highlighted the need for continuous talks between India and the US.

"There is no friendship and there is no back channel communication but we need to negotiate. America needs us and we need America. Its not easy for us to find customers immediately and America needs a supply chain...," Chidamabaram said.

After his decision to double tariffs on Indian imports, Trump had said that there will be no trade negotiations with India until a dispute over tariffs is resolved.

Also Read: India Will Not 'Bow Down' To Anybody, Says Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal Amid Trump Tariffs