We Talk | Indian scholar: 'Reciprocal tariffs' policy to backfire on U.S.

Following the announcement of a 25-percent tariff on steel and aluminum imports, U.S. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum on February 13 directing his administration to assess "the equivalent of a reciprocal tariff with respect to each foreign trading partner." These decisions have drawn widespread attention and triggered strong reactions globally.

Indian scholar K. J. Joseph noted that the "reciprocal tariffs" policy is bound to hurt exporters in countries like India, but the adverse impact on the U.S. will be even greater – fueling inflation and jeopardizing domestic growth. At the same time, "reciprocal tariffs" have affected global trade rules, which can be expected to bring significant shocks and uncertainties.