Washington — A coalition of 19 U.S. lawmakers, spearheaded by Indian-American representatives Ro Khanna and Deborah Ross, has called on President Donald Trump to swiftly mend the fraying U.S.-India alliance by rolling back steep tariffs that threaten to alienate a key democratic partner.
In a pointed letter to the president dated October 8, 2025, the bipartisan group warned that the administration’s recent escalation of duties on Indian imports to 50% — detailed in a draft notice from August 27 — has inflicted damage on bilateral ties, while raising costs for American consumers and businesses alike. The missive, accessible via Rep. Ross’s office, underscores the lawmakers’ deep connections to thriving Indian-American constituencies that bridge cultural, familial, and economic divides between the two nations.
“Recent actions by your administration have strained relations with the world’s largest democracy, creating negative consequences for both countries,” the letter states. “We urge you to take immediate steps to reset and repair this critical partnership.”
The signatories highlighted the tariffs’ broader fallout, arguing they bolster India’s incentives to deepen ties with geopolitical rivals China and Russia. “These tariffs will push India to build closer relations with China and Russia,” the document cautions. The lawmakers emphasized shared democratic values as a bulwark against authoritarian influences, noting that the U.S.-India economic bond sustains hundreds of thousands of jobs across both economies.
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This appeal arrives amid India’s rising strategic weight in the Indo-Pacific, where its role in the Quad alliance — alongside the U.S., Australia, and Japan — serves as a vital check on China’s expanding influence. The letter urges Trump to prioritize a tariff policy review as the first step toward reconciliation.
Joining Khanna and Ross were fellow Indian-American members Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Pramila Jayapal, and Shri Thanedar, among others in the diverse group.
The plea echoes prior bipartisan critiques. Last month, three other lawmakers, in a separate letter, charged that Trump’s tariff strategy undermines U.S. national security by nudging India toward Moscow and Beijing.
Trump’s 50% levy on Indian goods, implemented earlier this year, has drawn fire for disrupting supply chains and eroding trust in a partnership long viewed as a cornerstone of American foreign policy. With global tensions mounting, the lawmakers’ intervention signals growing congressional unease over policies that could isolate Washington from a natural ally in a multipolar world.
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