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India Unfazed by 15% US Tariffs, Says Helios Capital's Samir Arora

Samir Arora, founder of Helios Capital, stated that a 15% US tariff is acceptable from India's perspective, noting the country would have agreed to an 18% rate. He explained that the change brings many nations, including Australia and the UK, from a 10% to a 15% tariff level. Arora added that Europe, Japan, and South Korea return to their previous tariff positions under the new framework. The comments follow former President Trump's order raising a global tariff to 15% after a Supreme Court ruling against his earlier trade measures.

Key Points: Samir Arora on US 15% Tariff: "Nothing Wrong" for India

  • 15% tariff normalizes trade for India
  • India would have accepted 18% deal
  • Many countries move from 10% to 15%
  • Long-term extension needs US Congress approval
2 min read

Nothing wrong with 15% tariffs as far as India is concerned: Samir Arora, Helios Capital founder

Helios Capital founder Samir Arora says India views the 15% US tariff as favorable, normalizing trade rather than worsening conditions.

"Nothing wrong with 15% as far as India is concerned. - Samir Arora"

New Delhi, February 22

Samir Arora, Founder of Helios Capital Management, said that a 15 per cent tariff "is nothing wrong as far as India is concerned," arguing that the revised rate largely normalises trade conditions rather than worsening them.

"Nothing wrong with 15% as far as India is concerned. India would have been happy to have a signed deal at 18% and for now it is 15%," he said in a social media post on X.

"There were more than 90 countries which had a 10% tariff and I guess they will all be at 15% for now. Some of them are Australia, UK, Singapore, UAE who had 10% tariff before and will now be at 15%," he added.

Commenting on other major economies, Arora said Europe, Japan and South Korea are "back to where they were." On India's position, he said the country "would have been happy to have a signed deal at 18 per cent," suggesting that 15 per cent is comparatively favourable.

Arora also observed that even if tariffs eventually revert to 18 per cent for India under other provisions, "It is the same as it would have been without this recent drama."

"Beyond 5 months, how this will be extended is not obvious anyway and will need congressional approval," he said.

In a major blow to Trump's signature trade policy, the US Supreme Court on Friday ruled against most of his sweeping tariff measures. Trump later signed an order making 10 per cent global tariff on all countries, effective "almost immediately".

Afterwards, Trump on Saturday said that he is raising the 10% worldwide tariff on countries announced yesterday "to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level."

In a post on his social media handle Truth Social, Trump also said that during "the next short number of months", his Administration will determine and issue the new and legally permissible Tariffs, which will continue "the extraordinarily successful process of Making America Great Again".

"Based on a thorough, detailed, and complete review of the ridiculous, poorly written, and extraordinarily anti-American decision on Tariffs issued yesterday, after MANY months of contemplation, by the United States Supreme Court, please let this statement serve to represent that I, as President of the United States of America, will be, effective immediately, raising the 10% Worldwide Tariff on Countries, many of which have been 'ripping' the U.S. off for decades, without retribution (until I came along!), to the fully allowed, and legally tested, 15% level," Trump said.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The key point is "normalises trade conditions." Other major economies are facing the same hike. It levels the playing field. The real issue is the unpredictability of US policy. Our exporters need stable long-term agreements, not this back-and-forth.
D
David E
While I understand the comparative argument (15% vs 18%), we must be careful. Calling a tariff hike "nothing wrong" normalises protectionism. In the long run, a global shift towards higher tariffs hurts everyone, including Indian consumers and businesses that rely on imports. 🇮🇳
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Aman W
This is just political theatre before US elections. Trump's "extraordinarily successful process" is just talk. The Supreme Court pushback shows it's not so simple. India should use this time to diversify trade partners and reduce dependency on any single market. Make in India is the answer!
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Shreya B
As a small business owner exporting handicrafts, this constant change is nerve-wracking! 😓 One week it's 10%, next it's 15%. Arora says it might go back to 18% later. How do we price our products? The government needs to provide more clarity and support to MSMEs facing this uncertainty.
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Karthik V
The focus should be on why UK, Australia, UAE had only 10% tariffs before while India likely had higher? We need to negotiate better bilateral deals. If everyone is at 15% now, it's actually more fair. But we must aim for preferential terms in future agreements.

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