New Delhi, Aug 27 (HS): Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday slammed the Centre over the United States’ decision to impose a 50 percent import tariff on Indian goods, warning that the move could inflict an immediate loss of nearly ₹2.17 lakh crore on the economy.

Taking to social media, Kharge said the sharp tariff hike announced by former US President Donald Trump would severely hit cotton farmers, small industries, and India’s diamond and shrimp sectors. He alleged that the government had failed to negotiate a strong trade agreement, leaving the nation’s economic security at risk.

Kharge further cautioned that the impact could be devastating for jobs, pointing to estimates that about five lakh people in the textile sector may lose employment, while 1.5 to 2 lakh jobs in the diamond industry could vanish. Nearly 30 lakh livelihoods in shrimp farming also face grave uncertainty, he added.

Urging immediate government action, Kharge demanded concrete measures to shield farmers, workers, and small businesses from what he described as a “massive economic shock.”

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Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar