Overview

• Led by Representatives Deborah Ross and Ro Khanna, a group of House Democrats sent an October 8 letter urging the president to immediately reset relations with India and review tariff policy.
• The letter cites the late‑August escalation that lifted duties on many Indian goods to an effective 50%, combining a 25% reciprocal tariff with an additional 25% tied to India’s purchases of discounted Russian oil.
• The lawmakers argue the measures raise prices for American families, disrupt critical supply chains, and threaten jobs and investment links that rely on Indian inputs across sectors including semiconductors, healthcare, and energy.
• They caution the tariff approach risks pushing New Delhi toward closer engagement with China and Russia, undermining U.S. goals in the Indo‑Pacific and cooperation through the Quad.
• The signatories, including several Indian‑American members, emphasize India’s value as a defense and economic partner and call for recalibration through dialogue as the higher duties remain in effect.