By Kavita Mistry 
Indian-American Congressman Ro Khanna and Congresswoman Deborah Ross on Wednesday (October 8, 2025) led a group of 19 Congress members in urging President Donald Trump to take immediate steps to repair America’s strained relationship with India and to reverse his administration’s harmful tariff policies.
In a letter signed by 19 Congress members, they warned that the President’s recent tariff hikes, which raised duties on Indian goods to 50%, have undermined relations with India and hurt both American consumers and manufacturers.
“We write as Members of Congress representing districts with large, vibrant Indian-American communities that maintain strong familial, cultural, and economic ties to India. Recent actions by your administration have strained relations with the world’s largest democracy, creating negative consequences for both countries. “We urge you to take immediate steps to reset and repair this critical partnership,” the lawmakers wrote in a letter addressed to Mr. Trump.
The members also said that the U.S.-India trading relationship supports hundreds of thousands of jobs in both countries. “These tariffs will push India to build closer relations with China and Russia,” the letter said. “The United States and India share democratic traditions that set us apart from our authoritarian competitors. Our partnership demonstrates to the world that free and open societies can prosper through cooperation and mutual respect.”
The members noted that the development is particularly concerning in light of India’s growing importance as a stabilizing force in the Indo-Pacific through its participation in The Quad (with the U.S., Australia, and Japan) and its indispensable role as a counterweight to China’s growing assertiveness.
The group included other Indian-Americans, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Suhas Subramanyam, Pramila Jayapal, Shri Thanedar, among others.
The members urged Mr. Trump to take appropriate steps to restore the relationship between India and the U.S., beginning with a review of tariff policy.
Mr. Trump has imposed 50% tariff on imports from India.
Other lawmakers in the U.S. have voiced similar concerns. In a letter last month, three lawmakers accused Mr. Trump of weakening America’s national security by driving India toward Russia and China.