Aam Aadmi Party convener Arvind Kejriwal has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to “show some courage” by imposing a 75 % tariff on imports from the United States, in direct response to Washington’s 50 % levy on Indian goods. Speaking on Sunday, his demand, framed as “bold retribution: impose 75 % tariff”, was made amid growing agricultural and trade tensions.
Kejriwal characterised the central government’s decision to extend an 11 % import-duty exemption on US cotton until 31 December 2025 as a betrayal of Indian cotton farmers, particularly in Gujarat. He warned that cheaper American cotton could undercut domestic prices, potentially pushing them below ₹900 per 20 kg and driving farmers—already burdened with debt and input costs—towards despair. He argued that the exemption makes “US farmers rich while Gujarat farmers grow poorer.”
At a press conference held after his Kisan Mahapanchayat in Gujarat was postponed due to heavy rain, Kejriwal proposed a series of demands: restoring the 11 % duty on US cotton, instituting a minimum support price of ₹2,100 per 20 kg with assured procurement, and introducing subsidies for seeds and fertilisers. He stressed that without these interventions, harvest-season cotton from India would find no market and farmers might see suicide as their only option.
He sharply criticised the central government for “bowing down” to US pressure and “kneeling before Trump,” pointing out that other countries such as Canada, Mexico, and member states of the European Union had delivered firmer retaliatory responses to similar US tariffs. “Show some courage… the whole country is standing behind you,” he declared, insisting that “bold retribution: impose 75 % tariff” would compel Washington to reconsider.
While highlighting the plight of cotton farmers, Kejriwal also drew attention to the repercussions for diamond workers in Surat. With the US imposing a 50 % tariff on Indian polished diamonds, he alleged that “lakhs of diamond workers have lost jobs and struggle to manage household expenses,” a fallout he blamed on the government’s failure to respond decisively.
This call for a strong retaliatory stance follows Kejriwal’s earlier appeal at the end of August, when he proposed a 100 % tariff on American imports. That demand aimed to push the government toward a more assertive posture in trade diplomacy, reflecting growing opposition criticism of India’s current approach to mounting trade frictions.
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