India is said to be on the brink of a historic trade deal with the United States, and if done right, it could mean more than just political wins and export numbers. It could mean more choice, lower prices, and better products for Indian consumers. But here’s the catch, buried under headlines about “zero tariffs” are fineprint quotas, selective exemptions, and old-school protectionism dressed up as strategic policy. What is being sold as trade liberalization might still end up coddling legacy industries at the expense of the very people the economy is supposed to serve.

Tariffs don’t just restrict trade; they restrict choice, inflate prices, and punish innovation. Whether it’s a safer car part, a more effective cancer drug, or a cutting-edge piece of hardware, the end user always pays the price of protectionism. That is not sovereignty; that is the government putting a premium on your needs. Indian consumers have long borne the cost of high import duties. Take the automotive sector: while domestic manufacturers have grown under tariff walls, consumers have paid more for less outdated safety........

© The Statesman