August 29, 2025

Hold your breath! The US imposed steep 50% tariffs on Indian goods, and guess what? It’s all because of President Donald Trump’s bruised ego, says a fiery report by the US investment giant Jefferies. The story goes like this: Trump wanted to step in and mediate after the May India-Pakistan conflict, but India firmly said ‘No!’ to any third-party help. This refusal hurt Trump’s pride, and Jefferies believes it is the main reason behind these heavy tariffs. “Tariffs are primarily the consequence of the American president’s ‘personal pique’ that he was not allowed to play a role in seeking to end the long running acrimony between India and Pakistan,” the report explains. India has long drawn a firm red line against outside interference in its issues with Pakistan. Another hot potato is India’s agriculture sector. Jefferies highlights that no Indian government wants to open its farm market to imports. Why? Because nearly 250 million farmers and laborers depend on farming for their living – a whopping 40% of India’s workforce! Opening up would cause severe harm to so many lives. That’s not all. The report links these tariffs to wider global dramas. Trump promised to end the Ukraine war but failed. Meanwhile, India’s continued purchase of Russian oil didn’t sit well with Washington. Yet at the heart of it all lies the India-Pakistan mediation snub. Jefferies calls this situation a “classic example” of a “conceptual vacuum” in Washington’s decision-making. They warn that such harsh moves push India closer to China. In fact, the report points out that direct flights between China and India might resume by September, after a five-year pause – hinting at warming ties. So, what’s really cooking? Trump’s pride got hurt, India stood its ground on agriculture and foreign policy, and the tariffs became the bitter spice in this political masala. Global watchers should keep an eye on how this drama unfolds because pushing India away might just turn the tide in Asia’s big power game!

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Tags: Donald trump, Us tariffs, India, Pakistan conflict, Jefferies report, Us-india relations,