Republican lawmaker backs stronger India-US ties, cautions Trump to be ‘careful’ on tariffs
Washington, Nov 3 – Republican Representative Rich McCormick, who chairs the U.S. India Caucus, urged the Trump administration to deepen the India‑U.S. partnership at a discussion hosted by the Hudson Institute. He said the two countries could lead the world into a new era of peace and prosperity.
McCormick praised India’s rapid growth and highlighted its recent space milestone. “India landed a spacecraft on the dark side of the moon in 2023 for just $74 million,” he said. “That shows how far we can go when we work together.”
He also warned the administration to treat India’s trade policies carefully. “India usually applies about 15 % tariffs, while we have only about 2 %,” he explained. “President Trump did a good job, but let’s keep it under control.”
McCormick echoed a broader trend: more U.S. lawmakers are publicly supporting India‑U.S. ties after a period of quiet. Six Bipartisan letters were filed in the last three weeks, urging the U.S. government to settle disputes, especially over the H‑1B visa program and trade imbalances. The letters called for accountability regarding actions that targeted New Delhi, such as the 50 % tariff on Russian oil imports.
In early October, a bipartisan group of House members wrote to President Trump and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick about concerns that the H‑1B visa proclamation could hurt U.S. employers and competitiveness. Democrat Suhas Subramanyam and Republican Representatives Jay Obernolte and Don Bacon were among the signatories.
On Oct. 17, four lawmakers pressed President Trump to attend the Quad Leaders’ Summit in India and other meetings across Asia. The same day, a bipartisan resolution was introduced, recognizing the “contributions made by the Indian American diaspora” and condemning recent anti‑Indian racism. The resolution described the India‑U.S. relationship as “one of the most important democratic partnerships in the world.”
Criticism has focused on senior Trump officials, such as Trade Advisor Peter Navarro and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, for targeting India over its Russian oil purchases and trade deficit. In August, the administration imposed a 50 % tariff on goods from New Delhi, which included a 25 % levy on Russian oil.
Tensions eased recently, and negotiators have restarted talks to finalize the first phase of a trade agreement. The U.S. and India are working toward a deal that could reshape trade and security ties in the Indo‑Pacific region.
Source: ianslive
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