Sitharaman: Global Trade Weaponized by Tariffs; India Must Navigate Carefully

• Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that global trade is increasingly "getting weaponized" through tariffs and other measures.
• She emphasized that India must negotiate its path carefully, leveraging its overall economic strength for an advantage.
• Sitharaman highlighted that global trade is no longer free and fair, despite criticisms of India being a "tariff king."
• India's tariffs are for safeguarding domestic industries from "predator" flooding, not for weaponization.
• The minister noted a "new normal" where nations impose tariffs without criticism, unlike past objections.

Why It Matters: Global trade is weaponized by tariffs; India must carefully navigate this new reality with economic strength.