GUEST COLUMN
Shaji Baby John
In a rapidly shifting global economic landscape, India’s resilience is once again being tested — this time through a sweeping 25 per cent tariff announced by the United States on all goods imported from India. While at first glance such a measure appears daunting, the truth is far more empowering. India is no longer the hesitant emerging market of two decades ago. Today, we are a self-assured, self-reliant, and future-facing nation whose economic trajectory is shaped by its domestic strengths and bold strategic vision.
The timing of this external shock could not have been more telling. India has emerged as one of the fastest-growing economies globally, fuelled by a digitally enabled population, manufacturing reforms, infrastructure investment, and a renewed focus on sectors like agriculture, marine exports, and small enterprise development. With strong macroeconomic fundamentals, a rising GDP, record GST collections, and controlled inflation, India today has the capacity to withstand external turbulence — and more importantly, convert adversity into opportunity.
The 25 per cent US tariff is not a judgment on the quality or reliability of Indian goods. It is a geopolitical manoeuvre driven by internal economic compulsions and external alliances. But it also serves as a wake-up call to strengthen indigenous capacities and reduce strategic vulnerabilities.
For India, this is not a time to retreat, but to double down on long-term reforms and localised value chains. We must commend the Government of India, led by our Prime Minister, for neither yielding to pressure nor reacting with short-sighted retaliatory measures. Instead, they have chosen to safeguard the interests of India’s backbone — our farmers, fishermen, MSMEs, and millions of rural entrepreneurs. These are the very people who fuel India’s food security, innovation, and economic vibrancy. It is this trust-based ecosystem of grassroots enterprise that will shield India’s core economy from the worst effects of trade aggression.
The spirit of Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India) is not just a slogan; it is now visible in action across every state and every sector. From solar power to semiconductor manufacturing, from sustainable fisheries to organic agriculture, from fintech startups to infrastructure corridors — India is building internally, scaling vertically, and exporting globally. And unlike the export story of the past, this new India exports not just commodities but value-added, traceable, and sustainable products backed by digital systems and compliance frameworks.
In the specific context of the marine and aquaculture industry, India is already working towards reducing over-dependence on any single market. With new markets opening up in the Middle East, Southeast Asia, Europe, and Africa, Indian exporters are better diversified today than ever before. Moreover, the emphasis on high-quality, antibioticfree, traceable seafood aligned with global ESG norms positions India as a preferred supplier in premium segments — less vulnerable to price shocks or protectionist tariffs.
The real opportunity lies in reorienting our focus from volume-driven exports to brand-driven, value-centric global offerings. And that is exactly where the current disruption can catalyse positive transformation.
Tariffs may momentarily slow trade lanes, but they cannot dampen the entrepreneurial spirit of India’s producers, technologists, and market
makers. Moreover, India’s domestic market itself is becoming a powerful engine of growth. With rising incomes, urbanisation, and awareness around healthy, sustainable food, there is a massive opportunity to build Indian brands for Indian consumers — in everything from seafood to agri-processed goods. If the last decade was about export dependence, the next will be about dual resilience — global markets for scale, and domestic markets for strength.
This is also a moment for Indian companies and industries to speak in one voice — not just to defend their turf, but to lead the conversation on global trade fairness. Trade should not be weaponised. It should be a platform for shared growth. India’s commitment to WTO norms, sustainability, and cooperative development stands in stark contrast to punitive tariffs that risk creating instability in already fragile global supply chains.
Let us also recognise the power of collective optimism. Investors, entrepreneurs, and citizens alike must resist panic and instead look at the deeper structural opportunities. Just as India navigated past economic slowdowns, currency volatility, and supply disruptions with grace and grit, we will navigate this too — and come out stronger.
As someone closely involved in India’s aquaculture and rural development space, I believe this is the time to push forward, not pull back. We must invest in traceability tech, sustainable harvesting models, inland infrastructure, and digital trading platforms.
We must empower our coastal communities to become exporters of knowledge, not just raw product. And we must tell our story boldly to the world — not as victims of global politics, but as leaders of the next economic transformation.
The world is watching how India responds. Let us show them the spirit of unity, strength, and foresight that defines our journey. For India’s strength — built on people, principle, and potential — truly transcends tariffs.
(The writer is Chairman and Managing Director of Kings Infra Ventures Limited and writes on Blue Economy and Sustainable Development)
