Rajya Sabha MP and Lovely Professional University (LPU) founder, Ashok Kumar Mittal, has taken a bold stand against the United States after its decision to impose steep tariffs on Indian exports.
“If the US goes ahead and imposes 50% tariffs on Indian exports, Lovely Professional University will not sit quietly,” Mittal declared on X (formerly Twitter).
He went further, issuing a direct warning: “Let me remind the US once again, we will ban all American soft drinks on campus if these unfair tariffs are not withdrawn by 27 August.”
Calling for national unity, Mittal urged citizens to join in a wider boycott.
“I urge every patriotic Indian to join my call and boycott American products in their own small ways. Let’s unite and bring the US back to the table for discussion, not coercion.”
He ended his statement on a note, “Because, when 146 crore Indians speak, the world listens. Jai Hind!”
Trade Tensions Rise Between India and US
Mittal’s remarks came just as US President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods, up to 50%, officially took effect, heightening economic tensions between the two strategic partners.
India has firmly outlined its red lines on trade, insisting it must safeguard national interests and maintain strategic autonomy, particularly in areas like energy imports from Russia.
India’s Response and Economic Reforms
In response to the tariff hike, the Indian government is pushing forward with policy reforms. This includes restructuring the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to strengthen economic confidence and encourage growth.
Economists believe the tariffs will have only a limited effect on India’s GDP, estimating a possible dip of between 0.20% and 0.90%, with the higher figure being considered a worst-case scenario.
At a recent Economic Advisory Council meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought fresh policy advice to improve living standards and ease of doing business. According to a Bloomberg report, economists remain confident that India can still achieve 6.5% growth by March 2026, thanks to low inflation and expected interest rate cuts.
Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the council, highlighted India’s strong economic fundamentals, “The indicators of macro-stability show excellent condition. This provides an opportunity to strengthen the reform agenda, establishing groundwork for future periods of substantial growth.”
Why India Stands Strong
Despite the US being India’s largest export destination, accounting for $87.4 billion worth of goods in 2024, exports make up only about 2% of India’s GDP. Instead, India’s growth depends mostly on domestic consumption, which forms around 60% of the economy.
This resilience, combined with improving credit ratings and a stronger banking sector, gives New Delhi the confidence to push ahead with tough reforms, even as trade tensions rise with Washington.
Inputs from agencies
“If the US goes ahead and imposes 50% tariffs on Indian exports, Lovely Professional University will not sit quietly,” Mittal declared on X (formerly Twitter).
He went further, issuing a direct warning: “Let me remind the US once again, we will ban all American soft drinks on campus if these unfair tariffs are not withdrawn by 27 August.”
Calling for national unity, Mittal urged citizens to join in a wider boycott.
“I urge every patriotic Indian to join my call and boycott American products in their own small ways. Let’s unite and bring the US back to the table for discussion, not coercion.”
If the US goes ahead and imposes 50% tariffs on Indian exports, Lovely Professional University will not sit quietly.
— Ashok Kumar Mittal (@DrAshokKMittal) August 24, 2025
Let me remind the US once again - we will ban all American soft drinks on campus, if the US doesn’t withdraw the unfair tariffs by 27th August.
I urge every… pic.twitter.com/PhBsVNSJHe
He ended his statement on a note, “Because, when 146 crore Indians speak, the world listens. Jai Hind!”
Trade Tensions Rise Between India and US
Mittal’s remarks came just as US President Donald Trump’s decision to double tariffs on Indian goods, up to 50%, officially took effect, heightening economic tensions between the two strategic partners.
India has firmly outlined its red lines on trade, insisting it must safeguard national interests and maintain strategic autonomy, particularly in areas like energy imports from Russia.
India’s Response and Economic Reforms
In response to the tariff hike, the Indian government is pushing forward with policy reforms. This includes restructuring the Goods and Services Tax (GST) to strengthen economic confidence and encourage growth.
Economists believe the tariffs will have only a limited effect on India’s GDP, estimating a possible dip of between 0.20% and 0.90%, with the higher figure being considered a worst-case scenario.
At a recent Economic Advisory Council meeting, Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought fresh policy advice to improve living standards and ease of doing business. According to a Bloomberg report, economists remain confident that India can still achieve 6.5% growth by March 2026, thanks to low inflation and expected interest rate cuts.
Sanjeev Sanyal, a member of the council, highlighted India’s strong economic fundamentals, “The indicators of macro-stability show excellent condition. This provides an opportunity to strengthen the reform agenda, establishing groundwork for future periods of substantial growth.”
Why India Stands Strong
Despite the US being India’s largest export destination, accounting for $87.4 billion worth of goods in 2024, exports make up only about 2% of India’s GDP. Instead, India’s growth depends mostly on domestic consumption, which forms around 60% of the economy.
This resilience, combined with improving credit ratings and a stronger banking sector, gives New Delhi the confidence to push ahead with tough reforms, even as trade tensions rise with Washington.
Inputs from agencies
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