This refers to ‘Tariff war 2.0’ (March 16). Fighting a losing battle can affect the thought process of even a seasoned soldier. Trump is not one. And, he is alone in the crowd. That makes him desperate and he starts opening more war fronts, like filing suits and disturbing peace in other geographies by casual handling of obsolete punitive provisions of tariffs, etc. When things backfire, this President has nowhere to get sane advice as he has already created more enemies around him than he can handle. In their own interest, Americans should wake up and restore sanity in governance.

MG Warrier

Mumbai

Prudent trade strategy

Frequent tariff probes and shifting rules weaken confidence in trade agreements. Countries may hesitate to commit when terms change suddenly. This uncertainty may also affect long-term supply chains and investment decisions. India’s cautious approach in negotiations therefore appears sensible. Protecting interests in agriculture, data security, and intellectual property remains important. At the same time, steady engagement with partners should continue. Stable and predictable trade rules are essential for healthy global commerce.

S Balasubramaniyan

Villupuram, TN

Reckless foreign policy

The ‘The US’ global misadventures’ (March 16) rightly exposes how power, profit and public apathy fuel reckless US foreign policy. For India, the lesson is urgent: stop romanticising dependency. A stronger dollar inflates our oil and gold bills, hurting ordinary citizens. India must respond with energy self-reliance, deeper strategic reserves, wider rupee trade, and policies that curb excessive gold dependence. Sovereignty is not a slogan; it is economic preparedness. Washington will protect itself. India must protect India.

Arul Mozhi Varman

Sivakasi, TN

Fiscal health of States

The recent Fiscal Health Index released by NITI Aayog highlights a deepening divergence in the financial resilience of States. To restore fiscal health, States must enhance their own tax-capacity by broadening the GST base, and rationalise non-merit subsidies to reduce the revenue deficit. Most importantly, governments must adopt multi-year frameworks to stabilise debt rather than rely on annual ad-hoc populist measures. Strengthening fiscal governance at the State level is a prerequisite for sustainable and inclusive growth.

Madhvi Sharma

Chandigarh

Published on March 16, 2026