India must build a resilient economy and pursue a principled, independent foreign policy, says Syed Sadatullah Husaini
NEW DELHI — Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) President Syed Sadatullah Husaini on Saturday urged the Union government to adopt a balanced, non-aligned foreign policy and seek a negotiated settlement to the escalating tariff dispute with the United States.
In a statement, Husaini expressed “deep concern” over US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose an additional 25% duty on Indian imports, raising the total tariff rate to 50%. He described the move as “unwarranted” and “selectively punitive towards India.”
JIH President, Syed Sadatullah Husaini, calls for balanced foreign policy and negotiated resolution of tariff dispute with the UShttps://t.co/pr0sIVbkgE#TariffsOnIndia #IndiaUS
— Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (@JIHMarkaz) August 9, 2025
“It is unacceptable that India is being singled out while other countries, including the EU, continue to import goods and energy from Russia without similar penalties,” Husaini said. “Every country has the sovereign right to set its foreign, trade, and economic policies. Coercive economic tactics are part of a dangerous imperialist project undermining global cooperation.”
Husaini warned that the steep tariff would hit small and medium enterprises in labour-intensive sectors such as textiles, carpets, and food exports, potentially causing job losses in India and higher consumer prices in the US.
Calling the move a sign of rising protectionism being used as a geopolitical weapon, he urged the government to diversify trade by strengthening ties with Japan, South Korea, the EU, Australia, ASEAN, BRICS, and other regional blocs. He also stressed the need to bolster alternative economic groupings like BRICS to curb the dominance of any single nation.
Husaini recommended boosting domestic resilience by supporting manufacturing and agriculture, increasing capital expenditure on infrastructure and skills, and reducing dependence on major powers.
“This is a wake-up call,” he said. “India must build a resilient economy and pursue a principled, independent foreign policy that safeguards economic sovereignty and contributes to a fairer global trading system.”
