Bhubaneswar: In a sharp critique of the central government’s foreign policy and trade negotiations, Senior Biju Janata Dal (BJD) Law Maker Kalikesh Narayan Singhdeo has voiced serious concerns over US President Donald Trump’s announcement of a 25% tariff on Indian imports. While acknowledging the potential national economic impact, Singhdeo, a prominent leader from western Odisha, emphasized that the real crisis would be felt on the ground, particularly in states like Odisha, with a huge blow to employment and livelihood.
“More than the impact on the Indian economy, which some experts say would be 20 basis points of dampening on the growth, this would have a huge impact on employability and employment,” Senior Lawmaker, Shri Singhdeo stated, highlighting the vulnerability of key sectors. He specifically pointed to the IT industry, a significant source of employment for the middle class, which could be severely affected.
Shri Singhdeo’s remarks come as the state’s marine industry, a major export hub, is already reeling from the news. Industry sources in Balasore, a key center for shrimp cultivation and processing, report that exporters are facing suspended orders and fears of substantial financial losses. The US is a crucial market for Odisha’s seafood exports, with the state exporting millions of dollars worth of marine products, primarily frozen Vannamei shrimp, annually. The new tariff could make these products uncompetitive, jeopardizing thousands of jobs across the state, from aquaculture workers to transporters.
The BJD MLA also criticized the government’s approach to global diplomacy, pointing to the ongoing geopolitical tensions. He noted the proposed US penalty for buying Russian oil, suggesting that these strategic issues should have been factored into India’s foreign policy and negotiations with the US over the past year. “I fail to understand why this has not achieved success,” he said, lamenting the missed opportunity for a timely Free Trade Agreement (FTA) that could have mitigated the current crisis.
The concerns raised by Senior Lawmaker, Shri Singhdeo underscore the potential fallout of the US tariffs on Odisha’s economy, which has been making strides in attracting IT companies and developing its export sectors. The looming trade conflict threatens to derail these efforts and create a challenging environment for both established industries and job aspirants in the state.