Indian-American lawmakers criticise Trumps reciprocal tariffs, call them reckless – The Tribune

Describing US President Donald Trump’s tariff announcements as “reckless and self-destructive,” Indian-American Congressmen on Wednesday alleged that he is trying to destroy the country’s economy with his Liberation Day tariff.

“Trump is literally trying to destroy our economy with Liberation Day. Tariffs slapped overnight. No strategy, no consultation, no Congressional input. What does this mean? Prices are going to go up,” Congressman Ro Khanna said. There is total uncertainty, he said, adding that businesses don’t know whether to invest, and the stock market is down.

Khanna alleged that Trump’s economic policies are incompetent and incoherent.

Raja Krishnamoorthi said the new tariffs announced by President Donald Trump are reckless and self-destructive.

“Donald Trump’s blanket tariffs are a tax on working families so that he can cut taxes for the wealthiest Americans. These latest so-called ‘Liberation Day’ tariffs are reckless and self-destructive, inflicting financial pain on Illinois at a time when people are already struggling to keep their small businesses afloat and put food on the table,” Krishnamoorthi said.

Trump announced a 10 per cent tariff on goods imports from all countries. He also announced reciprocal tariffs on about 60 nations, which were calculated based on the nature of trade barriers the countries have in place on US goods and the size of US deficits.

“Don’t listen to Trump – these do nothing to strengthen our economy or national security. These tariffs isolate the United States on the global stage, alienate our allies, and empower our adversaries – all while forcing America’s seniors and working families to bear the brunt of higher prices,” Krishnamoorthi said.

“I urge all Americans to join me in calling on President Trump to end his disastrous tariff policies before he sends our country into a recession,” he said.

Indian-American Congressman Dr Ami Bera also slammed Trump. “Let me be clear: these tariffs will not “make America wealthy again. These costs will be passed onto YOU— the American consumer. This is not a tax cut. This is a tax hike,” he said.

“I don’t know what President Trump means by “Liberation Day” but what I do know is that across-the-board tariffs will increase costs for American families. His trade wars place a major burden on working class families at a time when Democrats and Republicans should be working together to lower costs,” Bera said.

Indian-American Congressman Suhas Subramanyam said these tariffs will raise costs on every American and actually hurt manufacturing in our country. “Small businesses and working families will suffer the most,” he said.