MEA Rejects US Human Rights Report, Calls Tariffs Unjust As Trade Talks Set For August 25

New Delhi: The Ministry of External Affairs did not reply directly to the Treasury Secretary’s threat that secondary tariffs would go up if Trump-Putin Summit failed but India has made its stance clear on the tariffs in the past. In a statement issued on August 6, the MEA stated the US tariffs were “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable.” It added that India would “take all actions necessary to secure its national interests.”

US Tariffs Loom as Trade Talks Near

The US has already put 25% on Indian exports to the US, and another 25% will come into force by August 27 should a trade deal not be reached. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said on Wednesday that a US trade delegation will be visiting India on August 25 for the sixth round of trade talks. These talks are expected to pave the way for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

At the weekly MEA briefing on Thursday, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal emphasised the strength of the India-US relationship. Stating that relations between the two countries remained anchored in the pillars of “shared interests and democratic values.”

“This partnership has weathered several transitions and challenges. We remain focused on the substantive agenda that the two countries have committed to, and we hope that the relationship will continue to move forward based on mutual respect and shared interests.”

Asked to respond to the release of a recent Human Rights Report by the US State Department, which has targeted India for poor human rights practices, Jaiswal stated India’s strong objections.

Govt Slams Misrepresentation of Democracy

“Such assessments are a mix of imputations, misrepresentations, and one-sided projections,” he said. “They show a poor understanding of India’s democratic framework, pluralistic society, and robust institutional mechanisms for protecting human rights.”

Jaiswal also took the opportunity to clear reports stating that Prime Minister Modi would be visiting New York for the UNGA in September. He stated that it had not “yet been decided if the PM is going to the UNGA or not.” Asked about the PM’s visit to China for the SCO summit, he said, “We will announce such visits at the right time, and we will keep you updated.”