Indias response to US tariffs: Business leaders urge reform for future-ready economy
As India faces additional 25 percent tariff on Indian products, bringing the total levy on certain items to 50 percent, prominent Indian business leaders like Amitabh Kant and Anand Mahindra advocate for significant economic reforms.
New Delhi: With US President Donald Trump slapping sweeping import duties on Indian products, prominent Indian personalities from the business world, like former Niti Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant, Mahindra Group chairman Anand Mahindra and Chairman - RPG Enterprises, have advocated for introducing new reforms which helps the country overcome such challenges and be future-ready to deal with these kind of situations.
The personalities are speaking as India faces tariffs of 25 per cent following Trump’s executive order that calls for Washington imposing tariffs on imports from countries around the world. The 25 per cent "Reciprocal Tariff, Adjusted” imposed on India came into effect on August 7, 2025.
Reacting to the US tariffs levied on India, Kant called for the introduction of big reforms and to create a situation where such a crisis becomes an opportunity for the nation. "Trump has provided us a once in a generation opportunity to take the next big leap on reforms. Crisis must be fully utilised,” he posted on X.
US tariffs row: India should seize this moment, says Anand Mahindra
Meanwhile, Anand Mahindra advocated for improving ease of doing Business and unleashing the power of tourism as a forex engine.
On the Ease of Doing aspect, the Mahindra Group chairman said India must go beyond incremental reform and create a genuinely effective single-window clearance system for all investment proposals. He emphasised on demonstrating speed, simplicity, and predictability, to make India an irresistible destination for global capital in a world seeking trusted partners.
Mahidra also advocated states to work in tandem with a national single-window platform. "While states control many investment regulations, we can begin with a coalition of willing states aligning with a national single-window platform,” he posted.
While pitching for development of the tourism sector, Mahindra suggested to "accelerate visa processing, improve tourist facilitation, and build dedicated tourism corridors around existing hotspots, offering assured security, sanitation, and hygiene.”
He said that such things would serve as models of excellence, encouraging other regions to emulate and raise national standards. And a broader action agenda to build on these pillars:
The chairman of the Mahindra group said MSMEs should be given more support and helped with liquidity. He further called for ‘Infrastructure Investment acceleration’ and push the manufacturing sector.
"A Manufacturing Push, via enhancement and expansion of the scope of PLI schemes; Rationalise import duties so that duty on manufacturing inputs are lowered and assist in improving our competitiveness,” Mahindra wrote on his X account.
Anand Mahindra said let’s not find fault in other countries for putting their own nation first and instead make our own country greater than ever.
Turbulent in the beginning
Harsh Goenka also advocated for making the country strong and self-reliant to weather such (tariff) storms. "A plane doesn’t lift off by staying comfortable. It takes pressure. Speed. Resistance. But once you’re in the air, the noise fades and suddenly, you’re above it all. That’s how growth feels. Turbulent in the beginning. Great once you’re soaring,” he posted on X.
As the US doubled tariffs to 50 per cent on Indian products, a senior Indian diplomat said this is a "unilateral decision" and said that negotiations are still going on between New Delhi and Washington DC.