A group of 19 US Congress members called on President Donald Trump to take decisive steps to restore and strengthen ties with India, warning that recent tariff hikes threaten both economic and strategic interests. In a letter sent on Wednesday, the legislators described the escalating trade measures as damaging to the long-standing partnership between Washington and New Delhi.
US Congresswoman Deborah Ross and Congressman Ro Khanna led a group of 19 Members of Congress in urging President Trump to take immediate steps to repair America’s strained relationship with India and to reverse his administration’s harmful tariff policies
In the letter, the… pic.twitter.com/ABhGQc8aPL
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Signatories of the letter included Representatives Deborah K. Ross, Ro Khanna, Brad Sherman, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Pramila Jayapal, Frank Pallone Jr., and several others representing districts with large Indian-American populations, underscoring the domestic constituency that stands to benefit from strong U.S.-India ties.
The letter specifically addressed the tariff increase in late August 2025, which saw duties on Indian goods rise to 50 per cent. Lawmakers explained that this combined a 25 per cent “reciprocal” tariff with an additional 25 per cent imposed in response to India’s energy imports from Russia. The move, they argued, has negatively affected Indian manufacturers while also raising costs for US consumers and disrupting supply chains that American industries rely upon.
Highlighting the broader impact, the lawmakers emphasised that US-India trade supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in both countries. American companies depend on Indian inputs in critical sectors, from semiconductors and healthcare to energy, while Indian investments in the U.S. have generated employment across multiple communities.
The Congress members also raised concerns about the potential geopolitical consequences of the tariff escalation. They warned that the strain could push India toward closer ties with nations such as China and Russia, undermining U.S. interests in the Indo-Pacific. India, they stressed, remains a “stabilizing force” in the region and a key partner in defence cooperation, particularly through the Quad alliance with the U.S., Japan, and Australia.
In urging a “recalibration, not confrontation,” the lawmakers called on the Trump administration to review current tariffs and maintain active dialogue with Indian leadership. They framed the partnership as one rooted not just in trade but in shared democratic values, highlighting that collaboration between two free societies sets them apart from authoritarian competitors.
