A senior Indian diplomat on Thursday criticised the Donald Trump management’s imposition of fifty consistent with cent price lists on Indian exports to the USA, calling the transfer “unilateral” and missing any “good judgment or reason why”, whilst he showed that bilateral business negotiations between the 2 facets would proceed.“This can be a unilateral determination. I do not believe there may be any good judgment or reason why in the way in which it’s carried out,” mentioned Dammu Ravi, secretary (financial members of the family), ministry of exterior affairs, chatting with journalists at the sidelines of the LIDE Brazil India Discussion board in Rio de Janeiro, as quoted by means of information company PTI.The remarks got here hours after US President Donald Trump signed an government order doubling import price lists on Indian items to 50 consistent with cent, mentioning New Delhi’s endured imports of discounted Russian oil as the explanation. The transfer is predicted to significantly have an effect on key sectors like textiles, marine merchandise, leather-based, and chemical compounds.In its first respectable response, India known as the transfer “unfair, unjustified and unreasonable”, in keeping with govt assets.In spite of the escalation, Ravi indicated that India would proceed to have interaction diplomatically. “Most likely, this can be a section we need to triumph over. The negotiations are nonetheless happening. So, we’re assured that answers can be discovered for the duration of time in taking a look at mutually recommended partnerships,” he mentioned.In keeping with Ravi, India’s ministry of trade is main the discussions with the USA, and talks had made important headway ahead of the tariff hike used to be introduced.“We had been very just about discovering an answer, and I believe that momentum has taken a brief pause, however it is going to proceed,” he added.A US delegation is predicted in India later this month for the 6th spherical of talks on a proposed bilateral business settlement (BTA). The 2 nations are hoping to conclude the primary section of the BTA by means of October–November.Downplaying the long-term have an effect on of the price lists, Ravi mentioned Indian trade used to be resilient and would no longer be derailed by means of the brand new tasks.“The prime tariff won’t have any damaging have an effect on at the Indian trade. It’ll no longer pull again or derail India Inc,” he asserted.Ravi famous that nations continuously search for selection markets when confronted with tariff “partitions”, and mentioned India would now flip its consideration to geographies such because the Heart East, Latin The usa, Africa and South Asia.“If the USA turns into tricky to export to, you’ll robotically have a look at different alternatives,” he mentioned.Describing Trump’s transfer as a “transient aberration”, Ravi expressed optimism that the location would stabilise with time and discussion.“That is, personally, a brief aberration, a brief downside that the rustic will face. During time, we’re assured that the sector will to find answers to it. Like-minded nations will search for cooperation and financial engagement that can be mutually recommended for either side,” he mentioned.Ravi additionally addressed considerations concerning the rising international momentum towards de-dollarisation. Even though he denied any planned transfer to avoid the USA greenback, he mentioned many nations had been now searching for choices for bilateral business because of a scarcity of onerous foreign money post-Covid.“Paintings in this side is on bilaterally and on the Brics stage,” he famous.Trump’s government order, ‘Addressing Threats to the USA by means of the Govt of the Russian Federation’, imposes an extra 25 consistent with cent tariff on Indian items over and above the prevailing 25 consistent with cent levy. The primary layer of tasks takes impact from August 7, with the extra 25 consistent with cent kicking in from August 27.India lately imports round 88 consistent with cent of its crude oil wishes, and Russian oil, to be had at a cut price after the Ukraine conflict, has turn out to be the rustic’s greatest supply. As of July, 1.6 million barrels consistent with day of India’s 5 million bpd crude imports got here from Russia.The brand new US accountability would make India the highest-taxed exporter to the USA (at 50 consistent with cent), along Brazil. When put next, price lists on identical items from competition like Bangladesh (35 consistent with cent), Vietnam (20 consistent with cent), and China (30 consistent with cent) stay considerably decrease.Industry professionals consider the tariff hike is a drive tactic by means of the USA forward of the continued BTA negotiations. Washington is looking for accountability concessions on electrical automobiles, dairy, wines, petrochemical merchandise, apples, tree nuts, genetically-modified plants, and extra.In 2024–25, bilateral business between India and the USA stood at $131.8 billion, with Indian exports accounting for $86.5 billion.In spite of the tensions, Ravi emphasized the strategic nature of the India-US partnership. “We have now a complementary courting. Companies and leaders on all sides are taking a look at business alternatives,” he mentioned.