India’s hightariffshave long been a point of contention in global trade debates, particularly for developed economies like the United States. The loudest criticism often comes from the United States, which frequently points to India’s tariff structure as protectionist and restrictive. What these arguments fail to acknowledge is that India’s tariffs, unlike many of America’s recent trade actions, are entirely WTO-compliant, rooted in long-standing agreements that reflect the economic asymmetries between developing and developed nations.India’s tariff policies reflect its evolving economic priorities, which include protecting domestic industries, encouraging self-sufficiency, and managing external trade imbalances. These are standard objectives for any developing economy, particularly one still nurturing its industrial base and seeking to balance import dependence with domestic manufacturing growth. India is not alone in this approach — much of the developing world operates within similar frameworks, using tariffs as both policy tools and negotiating levers in global trade discussions.
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