Better deal than other nations

With reference to ‘The tariff challenge’; the reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods imposed by the US pose a threat to trade in sectors such as textiles, engineering and fisheries, whereas pharmaceuticals and energy products have escaped the blow. India enjoys an advantage because of lesser tariffs compared to those imposed on our Asian competitors like China, Vietnam and Thailand. The Modi government must exploit this beneficial situation to capture the US market. However, India should remain vigilant, especially against China and other rivals who might try dumping their goods in India. The bilateral trade agreement should be used to deal with reciprocal tariffs imposed by the US.

Harbinder S Dhillon, Una

Blessing in disguise

When many nations are facing relatively higher tariffs, India stands to gain rather than be hit by the new US tariffs. This is an opportunity for India to strengthen exports to the US. Our manufacturing sector, especially textiles, pharma and the auto parts industry, must take advantage of the situation. IT companies, too, have big exposure to the US market and a big chunk of revenue comes from there. Here again, Trump has raised the bar for other countries. This means our IT companies continue to remain as competitive as or even better than those of other countries. The new US tariff regime will not have much negative impact on Indian business if we act wisely.

Suman Kuplish, Ludhiana

Textile industry has an edge

The silver lining for India is that tariffs have been slapped at higher rates for other textile-exporting countries like Bangladesh, Vietnam, China and Sri Lanka. Thus, India stands a good chance to augment its exports to the US. The government should work in close collaboration with US companies. The quality of Indian garments is quite good and competitive. India can export its products through Brazil by either opening offices there or directly manufacturing their garments in that country. India should continue to explore tieups with rich trade partners in Europe.

NPS Sohal, by mail

People’s trust crucial

With reference to ‘Nation’s moral fabric is in peril’; the writer has rightly pointed out that the armed forces and the judiciary are the two institutions that the people still respect. The recent ‘cash at judge’s house’ row has damaged the reputation of the judiciary, and the public is having doubts about the justice delivery system in the country. It is a sad state of affairs that most government departments have been bitten by the corruption bug. We don’t know when conditions will improve or whether they will. People’s trust in the system should be of utmost importance to any government. Since citizens are suffering, society is witnessing a steady decline in values.

Subhash C Taneja, Gurugram

Time-bound defence procurement

Apropos of ‘IAF jet crashes in Gujarat, one of two pilots missing’; our armed forces require sophisticated and dependable equipment in order to maintain their capabilities to meet any threat or challenge. The procurement process, be it from indigenous resources or other countries, should be expedited and made time-bound to meet the current requirements and upgrade our defence systems. We cannot afford to put the precious lives of our military personnel at risk due to a lack of latest equipment and other related resources. Obsolete equipment needs to be phased out as soon as possible.

Ravi Bhushan, Kurukshetra

Collective duty to fight drugs

The rising drug menace in Punjab demands more than just symbolic gestures and politically charged campaigns. Public marches, pledges and awareness drives serve a purpose, but without strong law enforcement and systemic reforms, their impact will remain limited. The focus should be on dismantling drug networks, tightening border controls, ensuring accountability of law enforcement agencies and investing in rehabilitation centres. The fight against drugs should not be reduced to scoring brownie points but treated as a collective responsibility.

Nikhil Chopra, Ludhiana

Letters to the Editor