'Appeasement Of Good Friend Trump': Congress Slams PM Modi After Rubio Says India Didn't Raise Generic Drug Tariff Issue

The Congress on Wednesday took a swipe at the Centre over US Secretary of State Marco Rubio''s reported remarks that India has not raised with him the issue of the proposed increase in tariffs on generic drugs announced by the US.

Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said this was another example of Prime Minister Narendra Modi''s appeasement of his "good friend" President Donald Trump. Ramesh shared a video clip of Rubio''s remarks on his meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar in Manila.

Rubio, when asked if the issue of tariff hike on generic drugs was raised during the meeting, reportedly said, "I would expect them to be concerned about it. But they didn't raise it today -- they might have with others in our system."

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"Another example of the PM''s appeasement of his good friend President Trump," Ramesh wrote.

US President Donald Trump on Wednesday announced plans to bring drug manufacturing onshore by keeping tariffs on imported generic medicines at zero for two years before raising them to 100 per cent in August 2028 and 200 per cent thereafter -- a move that could impact India. India is the largest exporter of generic drugs to the US.

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In a post on Truth Social, Trump said beginning August 1, the US will have zero tariff on all generic drugs brought into the country for a two-year period, after which it will be raised to 100 per cent for one year, and 200 per cent thereafter.

(Except for the headline, the story has not been edited by The Daily Jagran. Credit: PTI)