Shashi Tharoor hits out at Trump tariffs, says lakhs already losing jobs

Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor on Friday expressed shock at US President Donald Trump's "mercurial" decision to impose a 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods over the purchase of Russian oil. Calling him an "unusual" president, Tharoor said that Trump’s unprecedented move, which disregards conventional diplomatic norms, has already cost several Indians their jobs.

Trump's tariffs, including an additional 25 per cent penalty for oil imports from Russia, have made Indian exports to the United States increasingly unviable.

Stressing the need for India to diversify its export markets, Tharoor said the US President's trade war has already impacted over one lakh jobs in Surat’s gems and jewellery sector, as well as in the seafood and manufacturing industries.