AAP MP Ashok Kumar Mittal has addressed an open letter to US President Donald Trump, sharply criticising the recent imposition of steep tariffs on Indian goods and questioning Washington’s own trade practices. He urged Trump to choose dialogue over coercion and took a dig at him, questioning what if New Delhi boycotted American companies operating in India.
Mittal shared the letter on X and wrote, “What if 146 crore Indians boycott American companies operating in India? My open letter to Donald Trump on US’s 50 per cent tariffs for India, in which I urge him to choose dialogue over discord, coordination over coercion.”
Mittal didn’t shy away from calling out what he described as hypocrisy in the US stance on oil imports. He pointed to the European Union’s Euro 67.5 billion trade with Russia last year — including record LNG imports — and alleged that the US itself continues to import critical materials like uranium and palladium from Russia.
The letter comes a day after President Trump’s administration announced an additional 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports, citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil. The new tariffs bring the total import duty to 50 per cent, sparking strong responses across the Indian political and economic spectrum.
He described the move as “deeply disappointing,” pointing to the longstanding strategic and values-based partnership between the two democracies.
“India is a ‘dead economy,’ you said,” Mittal wrote, directly addressing Trump’s recent remarks. “Yet this ‘dead’ economy is the 4th largest in the world, soon to be third, and remains the fastest growing among major nations,” the letter added.
The MP highlighted the deep interdependence of the US and Indian economies, noting that American firms generate over USD 80 billion annually from Indian markets across sectors such as technology, finance, and education. He also cited India’s position as the third-largest air transport market and a vital partner in the global digital ecosystem.
“Should a nation pressurise India against trade with Russia when it itself relies on the Kremlin for its domestic interests?” he questioned.
Striking a historical chord, Mittal drew attention to the Swadeshi Movement — launched on August 7, 1905 — as a symbol of India’s potential to assert economic independence. He warned of the consequences if India were to channel that spirit and strategically restrict US businesses in response.
“The impact would be far more severe for the United States than for India,” he asserted.
“Let us choose dialogue over discord, coordination over coercion,” he urged. “Let us shape the future through respect, resolve, and renewed commitment to a rules-based global order.”
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