India-US Relationship During Second Trump Term: What Shashi Tharoor Said
As Republican candidate Donald Trump appeared to clinch the victory in the US presidential elections, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor shared his insight on the potential implications of the India-US relationship during the second Trump term in White House.
Speaking to the news agency ANI, the Thiruvandanapuram MP and a former UN diplomat, pointed out that India already have had the experience of Trump as the US president for four years, adding that therefore there would not be too many surprises. Calling the president-elect a “transactional leader,” Tharoor implied the Republican as a ‘give and take’ person, referring that Trump would give what he gets.
Read Also: Palestinian Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar Win; To Be First Muslim Women In US Congress
Stating that Trump is tough on trade, the Congress leader recalled him as the one who does not like India’s tariff policies. He said that If India imposes more tariff on US good, America would would also do the same on Indian goods, and added that it would be a setback for “our companies and would effect the exporting to the US.”
Trump had earlier called India ‘very big abuser of tariff’, alleging that India has been imposing ‘tremendously high’ tariffs on the US products.
Trump is also tough on immigration, Tharoor goes on, it would also be a potential issue for some of Indians, especially for the family reunions of the diasporas, he said.
During his first term, Trump oversaw a substantial increase in H-1B visa denials and Requests for Evidence (RFEs), leading to heightened uncertainty for high-skilled workers. From 2016 to 2020, H-1B denial rates averaged around 18%, compared to only 3.2% under the Biden administration. Similarly, the rate of RFEs nearly tripled under Trump, from around 12% to a peak of 34%. The H-4 visa holders, the spouses of H-1B workers would also face challenges. The tough visa rules for H-1B and H-4 visa holders would be thus a matter of concern for Indians.
However, the Congress leader acknowledged that despite all these, Trump has been very friendly to India and tough on China, adding that therefore “not bad” for the country. Observing that these are the things that can be expected from the president-elect based on his track record, Tharoor said Harris would have been more unknown or uncertain figure.
Read Also: World Leaders Congratulate Donald Trump On His Return To White House As President
When asked about Trump’s perception on the ongoing India-Canada tension, the Congress leader said he don’t see Trump having expressed any particular view on the situation.
“Certainly, I would be surprised if that was the kind of concern that he would have. We have concerns about the Canada relationship and perhaps we can talk to a new Trump administration about why we are unhappy with these Khalistanis running rampant across the border,” the Congress leader said, highlighting that he don’t see the president-elect taking a personal interest in that particular issue.
“We’ll have to see. This is all speculation,” the Congress leader concluded as he left the conversation.
#WATCH | Delhi: On #USElections2024 results, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor says, “It seems as if he (Donald Trump) is coming back. I think the official declaration is imminent…The truth is that we’ve had experience of Mr Trump as president for four years already, so there… pic.twitter.com/SQHEG6VPFc
— ANI (@ANI) November 6, 2024
