India has formally requested a review of the United States Trade Representative’s proposed tariffs on goods linked to forced labour, citing significant flaws in the underlying investigation report.
The move marks a sharp escalation in New Delhi’s opposition to the measure, which the Indian government argues is both procedurally defective and economically inconsistent.
Brij Mohan Mishra, Joint Secretary in India’s Department of Commerce, emphasized that trade disputes should be resolved through bilateral negotiations rather than unilateral actions.
He urged the USTR to reconsider its approach, arguing that the current proposal fails to account for the complexities of global supply chains and unfairly targets Indian exports.
The challenge comes as the US government continues to debate the economic and ethical implications of the tariff proposal.
A recent US hearing highlighted deep divisions among policymakers regarding the measure, with critics warning that broad-based tariffs could disrupt essential imports and raise costs for American consumers.