Politician Mary Milben, the vocal singer who prostrated before Prime Minister Modi, petitions for diplomatic trade discussions
In a recent appeal, Black American singer Mary Millben has called on the leaders of the United States and India, President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, to prioritize dialogue and cooperation in resolving the escalating trade tensions between the two nations.
Millben's message, which resonates with small businesses in both countries, comes in the context of President Trump threatening to increase tariffs on Indian goods to 25%. This move is seen as a response to India's increasing crude oil imports from Russia, with 40% of India's current oil supply now coming from the Eastern European country, a significant increase from the 2% before 2022 [2].
The singer emphasizes the mutual dependence of the US and India and warns that the current "muscular verbiage" around tariffs is harming countless small businesses in both countries. Millben urges the leaders to negotiate as real friends and find common ground to resolve the tariff conflict [1].
The US has been placing pressure on India to reconsider its ties with Russia, with the US importing $24.51 billion worth of goods from Russia since 2022, including uranium and fertilizers that India uses [3].
Former US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has also criticized Trump for giving adversary China a pass while potentially damaging the relationship with India [1].
Millben's focus is on the human costs of the trade spat, and she advocates for dialogue and cooperation rather than confrontation, emphasizing economic and strategic partnership over punitive trade measures [1].
In summary, Millben's proposal is a call for constructive negotiation to ease trade tensions and protect small businesses affected by the tariff "tug of war" between the US and India [1].
[1] The Washington Post [2] Reuters [3] The Economic Times
- The business community, particularly small-business owners, in both the United States and India are concerned about the escalating trade tensions between their countries, as highlighted by Mary Millben's recent appeal.
- In her appeal, Mary Millben, a Black American singer, argues that the ongoing political rhetoric surrounding tariffs is detrimental to the finance and general-news sectors, as these sectors are closely tied to the wellbeing of small businesses in both nations.
