NEW DELHI, March 19 – Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar said the increasing use of tariffs and sanctions by countries to protect economic interests has become a global reality, as international relations continue to evolve.
“Tariffs, sanctions—whether we like it or not—are a reality. Countries use them,” Jaishankar said in response to a question on India’s approach to such measures. “Over the last decade, we have seen a much greater weaponization of pretty much any kind of capability or economic activity. It could be financial flows, energy supplies, or technology.”
He emphasized that fighting for business is integral to national power, stating, “You fight for your business because you are fighting for employment, for comprehensive national power, of which business plays a crucial role.”
Jaishankar also noted that international relations have undergone significant shifts, with traditional boundaries between different domains becoming increasingly blurred. “Today, the lines dividing different domains have eroded. It’s a less restrained culture compared to a decade ago,” he said. The minister’s remarks come amid a global trend of trade protectionism, with countries deploying economic measures to secure strategic advantages.
