“Will Neither Bow Nor…”: Piyush Goyal’s Strong Message to Donald Trump Over 50% Tariffs on India

Piyush Goyal Message: Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has said India won’t “bend” to US President Donald Trump’s tariffs and will instead focus on new markets.

In his first comments since the tariffs took effect, Goyal on Friday said India was always prepared for a free trade agreement.

But India "will neither bow down nor ever appear weak. We will continue to move together and capture new markets,” Goyal said, while speaking at a construction industry event in New Delhi.

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The union government will announce several measures in the coming days to support every sector and boost exports.

"I can say with confidence that India's exports this year will exceed 2024-25 numbers," he said.

Donald Trump imposed 50% tariffs on many Indian imports into the US last month as a punishment for India’s massive purchase of Russian oil. The tariffs have come into effect this week and are part of US efforts to pressure Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.

Since he returned to the White House in January this year, Trump has used tariffs as a tool to disrupt global trade.

The latest tariff salvo from Trump has strained US-India ties, with New Delhi earlier criticising the levies as "unfair, unjustified and unreasonable".

Trade talks between the two countries have stumbled over agriculture and dairy markets.

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Trump wants greater US access, while Prime Minister Narendra Modi is determined to shield India's farmers, having publicly stated that he would not yield to the pressure. He has even started a ‘swadeshi’ push.

The US was India’s largest export market in 2024, with export value at $87.3 billion.

But analysts have warned that 50% duty is like a trade embargo and will hurt small businesses.

Textiles, seafood and jewellery exporters have already reported cancelled US orders and losses to rivals like Bangladesh and Vietnam, and are fearing heavy job cuts.

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