Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday called on the Indian government to impose higher tariffs on imports from the United States, asserting that the entire country would support such a move.

Addressing a press conference, Kejriwal said, “If US President Donald Trump can impose a 50% tariff, we should respond with a 100% tariff. Are we a weak nation? We are a country of 140 crore people — we have a massive market.”

He argued that India should follow the example of other nations that refused to bow to external pressure and instead raised tariffs in response. “No country can afford to offend India,” Kejriwal said, emphasizing India’s strength as a consumer market.

Kejriwal also criticized the Centre’s recent decision to waive the 11% import duty on cotton from the US, warning that the move could severely hurt Indian farmers. He claimed the decision would flood the domestic market with cheaper American cotton, undercutting local producers.

On Thursday, the government extended the duty-free window for cotton imports until December 31. The original exemption, announced by the Finance Ministry, was set to last from August 19 to September 30.

“Earlier, American cotton was costlier because of the 11% duty. Now, with that duty waived, textile industries will opt for cheaper imported cotton,” Kejriwal said. “When our farmers bring their cotton to market in October, they’ll face fewer buyers. This decision could seriously damage their livelihood.”

He urged the Modi government to reverse the move and reimpose the 11% duty on US cotton imports, arguing that rather than removing the duty, it should have been increased to protect domestic agriculture.

“This is not just about cotton — it’s about standing up for our farmers and our economy,” Kejriwal said.