New Delhi, July 31 (UNI) Congress MP Manickam Tagore has submitted adjournment notice in the Lok Sabha today to discuss the govt’s failure in preventing the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs and additional penalties by the United States on Indian exports.
Opposition MPs have started targeting the Modi-led NDA government a day after US announced 25 per cent tariffs on imports from India starting from Friday.
In the notice, Tagore termed the situation an “economic and diplomatic failure,” stating that these measures will severely impact some of India’s most competitive and employment-intensive export sectors, including automobiles and auto components, steel and aluminium, electronics and smartphones, solar modules, pharmaceuticals, marine products, processed food, agriculture, and gems and jewellery.
The motion highlights that the US administration has cited India’s “non-tariff barriers” and “unfair trade practices” as the premise for the action. India’s trade surplus with the US was USD 45.7 billion in 2024.
Tagore also expressed his concern regarding economic fallout, especially in MSME belts, where the impact could lead to production disruption, order cancellations, job losses, and long-term damage to India’s export reputation. He estimated that 6-8 lakh MSMEs could directly or indirectly be affected, putting 40-50 lakh jobs at risk across sectors (15-20 lakh workers in automobiles, 20 in gems and jewellery, over 10 lakh in marine products, processed foods, and agriculture).
The notice also criticised the government for its silence on India’s recent trade proximity with Russia that may have contributed to the US action, and said that no statement has been placed before parliament by either the Prime Minister or the concerned ministers (Minister of External Affairs, Commerce).
“The lack of strategic communication and transparency on foreign alignment is a serious concern,” the MP said, also adding that Parliament had not been taken into confidence despite the gravity of the situation.
The adjournment motion seeks to initiate an urgent discussion in the House on the government’s handling of the issue, its impact on trade and employment, lack of transparency, and the need for corrective diplomatic measures and MSME support.
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