Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has issued a strong condemnation of the United States’ recent move to impose a 50% tariff on Indian goods, warning that the decision could cripple Kerala’s key export sectors and threaten the livelihoods of thousands.
Calling the tariff hike a “blatant violation of global trade norms” and a “direct attack on multilateralism,” the CM said Kerala’s prominent exports—including seafood, spices, tea, and coir—will be hit hard by the U.S. action. He urged the Union Government to respond with strength and clarity, protecting India’s economic sovereignty.
The tariff hike comes in the wake of strained ties between India and the U.S. over India’s continued oil imports from Russia.
Kerala Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal also voiced serious concern, noting that even a 25% tariff would have been damaging. A 50% hike, he warned, could severely impact Kerala’s export-driven economy, which is heavily reliant on foreign trade.
With growing fears of job losses and economic slowdown in the state’s export hubs, the call for immediate central intervention is gaining momentum.
