Shashi Tharoor Doesn't Mince Words on India US Trade Deal, Says 'We May Have to Diversify Our Markets Outside of America'

Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP, has been open about the trade talks between India and the US. He has emphasized that India should think about expanding its markets outside of the US if a deal that is good for both sides cannot be made. When Tharoor talked to reporters about the talks, tensions were building because of the US's recent tariffs. He called them "challenging" and stressed how bad the current US trade measures are for the Indian economy.

#WATCH | Delhi | On trade negotiations between the US and India, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, "It is a challenging negotiation. We are negotiating with many countries. The US is not the only negotiation. We have ongoing negotiations with the EU, we already concluded a deal… pic.twitter.com/tl85WKiMjW

— ANI (@ANI) July 31, 2025

Indian exports are in danger because of US tariffs

The recent announcement by former US President Donald Trump of a 25% tariff on Indian exports to the US, along with other penalties because India buys oil and gas from Russia, sets the scene for Tharoor's statements. Tharoor said that this was a "very serious matter" that could "destroy" India's trade with the US if these prices and penalties stay in place.

Keeping a neutral stance during negotiations

The US is one of India's biggest export markets, worth about $87 to $90 billion a year, so Tharoor stressed how important it was to keep a neutral position in negotiations. He said that the tariffs seem to be a way to get a better deal in the talks that are still going on, but India needs to be firm and refuse to give in to requests that are "completely unreasonable." He also said that the US government should understand India's needs. He pointed out that India charges an average of 17% taxes on American goods and that US goods are often too expensive to compete in the Indian market.

Keeping jobs and economic interests safe

To show how bad things are, Tharoor said that these tariffs could hurt the jobs and incomes of millions of Indians who sell to or work in US-based industries. He said that India should carefully consider its choices and, if necessary, change its trade partners from the US to other countries to protect its economic interests.

Using a broader strategy means working with more than one trade partner

Also, Tharoor asked for openness in the talks, pointing out that India is in trade talks with many countries, including the EU, and that recent deals have already been reached. Diversification is part of India's larger plan to become less reliant on any one market and to handle the complicated trade relations with many partners at the same time.

Strong political voices draw attention to growing worry

This strong stance from a top Congress leader shows that Indian politicians and businesspeople are becoming more worried about the effects of US tariffs and how the trade relationship between the US and India is changing. Other Indian leaders, like former finance minister P. Chidambaram, have also warned against the US taxes. He called them a "big blow" and a breach of World Trade Organization rules.

To sum up, Shashi Tharoor's message is clear: India wants to talk about trade, but it won't give in to unfair demands that put its exports or national interests at risk.