On March 4, 2025, tariffs kicked in on US’s biggest trading partners - Mexico, Canada and China. India is still negotiating a deal as cutting tariffs on US goods could impact agriculture and industry. Trump may be using the threat of tariffs to get concessions for USA – but, it could boomerang on the US.
US President Donald Trump is acting with great haste. Steep tariffs on its close trade partners have been announced. His Secretary of State is in Panama to discuss the Panama Canal issue. PM Netanyahu is summoned to the White House.
Elon Musk has got access to Treasury department’s data to start downsizing the government. Changes in the Justice department, intelligence agencies and FBI have been made. There is a rapid shake up within the US government and in global trade in less than 15 days of Trump taking over the Presidency.
Glowing tributes are being paid to Manmohan Singh. Not only it is an Indian tradition to praise the departed, but much has changed since he demitted the prime ministership following the rout of the Congress in 2014. The United Progressive Alliance (UPA)-II headed by him was characterised by policy paralysis and non-performance and that was exploited by the BJP and Narendra Modi. But today, Singh comes across as a democrat and the contrast with the present times is stark.
The debate in parliament on the Indian constitution did not rise to the occasion. Neither side focused on how it has helped India stay together as one nation...
The inadequate incomes of the poor lead to a shortage of demand even for the organised sector. The root is rising inequality.
Unfortunately, politics, law and economics are likely to converge to ensure that the brunt of the Adani bribery case befalls the Indian economy and consumers. To avoid that, public consciousness about corruption and cronyism needs to be raised.