Amid escalating trade tensions between the United States and India, sparked by President Donald Trump’s decision on August 6, 2025, to impose an additional 25 percent tariff, on top of the existing 25 percent, policy experts and diaspora organizations have reiterated the strategic importance of a strong U.S.-India economic alliance in the 21st century.

Indiaspora, a nonprofit organization representing global Indian diaspora leaders across diverse sectors, emphasized the foundational value of this relationship in a statement. “We believe the U.S.-India relationship is not just important, it is essential. As global dynamics shift, this economic partnership should stand as a cornerstone for stability, innovation, and progress in the 21st century,” said Indiaspora in an official statement.

While acknowledging the current trade friction, Indiaspora expressed confidence that the broader bilateral relationship would endure. 

“We remain optimistic that the ongoing discussions, when concluded, will reflect the aspirations of both nations and the global Indian diaspora that believes in them,” the organization stated, describing the U.S.-India connection as an “enduring, robust and broad-based people to people relationship.”

Indiaspora also underscored the integral role of the Indian American community, over five million strong, in bridging the two democracies. The diaspora, it noted, serves as a “living bridge,” contributing significantly to the U.S. economy, culture, and civic life. These contributions, the organization said, make the bilateral relationship “unique, special, deep-rooted, and impactful.”

Ambassador (ret.) Atul Keshap, president of the U.S.-India Business Council (USIBC), echoed this sentiment, noting that the partnership has yielded significant mutual benefits. 

“The partnership the United States and India have forged in recent years has brought significant mutual benefits, and our elected leaders should be proud of all they’ve accomplished. The business community sees our shared strategic interests and complementary economies as powerful arguments to continue on this path. It’s time to redouble our efforts, not pull apart. Business stands ready to help.”

Rick Rossow, Chair in U.S.-India Policy Studies at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, in a social media post, highlighted the decades of effort it took to build trust between the two countries.

“We are spiraling. Damage could last a long time. But, it’s still reversible,” he cautioned, adding “A strong strategic/commercial partnership with India is the best gift American leaders can deliver to future generations. We won’t always see eye-to-eye on global issues, but India will ‘forever’ have the world’s largest population, will be one of 3 global economic giants, and massive military power.”

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