Sri Lankan MP Urges Respect for India Amid US Tariff Standoff.
Sri Lankan parliamentarian Harish Silva has called on his colleagues to show solidarity with India as New Delhi faces mounting tensions with Washington over steep US tariff hikes. Speaking during a parliamentary debate on the economic impact of US duties, Silva said, “Let’s not talk about the US tariffs here. Don’t laugh at India. Don’t mock them when they are down, because when we were down, they were the only ones to lend us a hand.”
He noted that Sri Lanka, like India, had anticipated a cut in US tariffs to 15%, but those hopes were dashed. “We saw you laughing—don’t laugh,” Silva stressed. The remarks come after US President Donald Trump doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50% and ruled out any trade talks until the dispute is resolved. “No, not until we get it resolved,” Trump told reporters at the Oval Office last week.
The move has drawn sharp criticism in Washington as well, with Congressman Gregory Meeks warning that Trump’s latest “tariff tantrum” could undo years of work to strengthen US-India ties.
India and the US have held several rounds of talks toward a trade agreement, but deep differences—particularly in agriculture and dairy—have stalled progress. The next round of discussions is slated for August 25 in New Delhi, just two days before a 25% penalty on India’s Russian oil purchases takes effect, on top of the already increased tariffs.
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