Chennai, Aug 7 (NationPress) Tamil Nadu BJP spokesperson A.N.S. Prasad has made a poignant statement criticizing the United States government's decision to implement a staggering 50 percent customs duty on Indian goods, labeling it a desperate and self-defeating move by President Donald Trump.

He juxtaposed India's consistent ascent on the global scene under Prime Minister Narendra Modi with what he describes as America's geopolitical and economic downturn under Trump.

Referring to the tariff as an outrageous and unlawful imposition, Prasad asserted that this decision would not adversely affect India but would rather isolate the United States both diplomatically and economically.

"By antagonizing a burgeoning global power like India, the US has miscalculated. This reckless tariff policy will only undermine its own strategic interests," he remarked.

Prasad contended that the 50 percent customs duty was not based on sound economic principles but instead illustrated a deep-rooted insecurity about India's unstoppable rise.

He noted that the US's decision undermines its credibility as a global leader and reflects an unwillingness to engage constructively with long-time allies.

Highlighting India's rapid transformation under PM Modi's leadership over the last 11 years, the BJP spokesperson pointed to significant infrastructure growth, advancements in technology, and a swiftly expanding economy.

According to World Bank data, India's GDP is projected to reach $3.6 trillion in 2024 with a growth rate of 8.2 percent, as per IMF statistics.

He emphasized India's increasing influence in global diplomacy through platforms like the Quad and G20 and its strengthening partnerships with countries across Africa, Latin America, and Southeast Asia.

"PM Modi's foreign policy has bolstered India's soft power, while Trump's isolationist stance has alienated allies and diminished US global influence," Prasad commented.

Discussing India's decisive actions against terrorism and foreign policy challenges, he referenced the 2019 Pulwama surgical strikes and India's rapid response to the Pahalgam attack in 2025.

"India rejected US mediation offers and reaffirmed its sovereignty. The US was increasingly sidelined as India asserted its autonomy," he continued.

Prasad also condemned the US for its hypocrisy in global trade, particularly its 25 percent tariff on India for importing Russian oil while simultaneously importing enriched uranium from Russia.

"India exposed the double standards of the US, compelling the world to question American moral authority," he asserted.

He cautioned that Trump's 50 percent tariff would rebound negatively for the US economy.

"India supplies 40 percent of US generic drugs, and our IT services are vital to global supply chains. With a $36 billion trade deficit with India, this action could exacerbate America's economic challenges," Prasad noted, referencing US Census Bureau figures.

The BJP spokesperson recalled India's global leadership during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting how India produced and exported vaccines to over 100 countries, while the US grappled with domestic turmoil and recorded over a million deaths.

"India emerged as a humanitarian and strategic leader, unlike Trump's US, which faltered in crisis," he stated.

He further claimed that Trump's tariff decision was politically motivated, aimed at undermining India's success narrative to enhance his re-election chances.

"Driven by jealousy of PM Modi's global image, this unfounded aggression will harm the US more than India," Prasad concluded.

India, he noted, has made substantial investments in infrastructure, green energy, and manufacturing through initiatives like 'Make in India'.

"India's $1.1 trillion infrastructure initiative and 500 GW renewable energy target by 2030 are propelling the country into a role as a global manufacturing and climate leader," he asserted.

Quoting reputable global financial institutions like the International Monetary Fund and World Bank, Prasad indicated that India's growth is anticipated to maintain strong momentum at around 7 percent in 2025, while aggressive US trade strategies could backfire and lead to global instability.

In closing, he remarked: "India is on an unstoppable trajectory to become the world’s third-largest economy by 2030 and a leading power by 2047. Trump's punitive tariffs will be remembered as a turning point, not for India's decline, but for America's fall from influence. Under PM Modi's guidance, India will continue to ascend as a global superpower."