Jaishankar’s rebuttal

Apropos, ‘Jaishankar rebuts Trump’s assertion on zero tariffs’, (May 16).

Donald Trump’s recent claim that India imposes “zero tariffs” on US goods is another example of his unhinged rhetoric, divorced from facts. In his typical bombastic style, Trump accused India of unfair trade practices, conveniently ignoring existing tariff structures and trade negotiations.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar swiftly and rightly called out this distortion, asserting that India does not offer zero tariffs and has always engaged transparently.

Trump’s relentless pattern of misrepresentation knows no bounds, and this instance reaffirms the need for informed diplomacy over headline-grabbing falsehoods. Facts, not fiction, should guide global trade conversations.

N Sadhasiva Reddy

Bengaluru

Trade detente

The decision of the two largest economies in the world, the US and China, to pause their devastating tariffs, with the US now reducing import duty on Chinese goods from an absurdly high 145 per cent to 30 per cent and China scaling down on US goods from 125 to 10 per cent, has come as a shot in the arm to the slowing global economy.

However, given the fact that there is no final settlement and the pause is only for 90 days, the world is not yet free of jitters.

As far as India is concerned, with the tumult in global trade far from over, it is imperative that we clinch a deal with the US sooner rather than later.

M Jeyaram

Sholavandan (TN)

Remittance hit?

This refers to ‘Trump regime’s plan to tax remittances could strain family finances in India and the NRI housing market’ (May 16).

Trump administration’s decision in levying 5 per cent tax on all US outbound remittances would be yet another blow to all categories of non-US citizens straining the recipients of remittances and impacting their financial planning, having a cascading effect on savings, investments and all remittances driven sectors.

Per report, the tax exemption is given only to verified US citizens and US Nationals and not the holders of H-1B and L1 who form a major portion of non-US workforce who support their families back at home and in repaying the debts borrowed from banks for higher studies and research.

The proposed tax levy would push many to resort to informal channels for wire transfers and would have a long standing impact on many people hoping to go to the US for study and work.

RV Baskaran

Chennai

Published on May 16, 2025