Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei More Willing To Pursue Nuclear Weapons Than His Father: Report

<div class="qMYqUG_convSearchResultHighlightRoot"> <div class="" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:f7d0e449-98f0-430d-a903-da56659823cd-29" data-is-intersecting="true"> <section class="text-token-text-primary w-full focus:outline-none has-data-writing-block:pointer-events-none [&amp;:has([data-writing-block])&gt;*]:pointer-events-auto R6Vx5W_threadScrollVars scroll-mb-[calc(var(--scroll-root-safe-area-inset-bottom,0px)+var(--thread-response-height))] scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id="request-WEB:f7d0e449-98f0-430d-a903-da56659823cd-29" data-turn-id-container="request-WEB:f7d0e449-98f0-430d-a903-da56659823cd-29" data-testid="conversation-turn-60" data-turn="assistant"> <div class="text-base my-auto mx-auto pb-15 [--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-xs,calc(var(--spacing)*4))] @w-sm/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-sm,calc(var(--spacing)*6))] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-margin:var(--thread-content-margin-lg,calc(var(--spacing)*16))] px-(--thread-content-margin)"> <div class="[--thread-content-max-width:40rem] @w-lg/main:[--thread-content-max-width:48rem] mx-auto max-w-(--thread-content-max-width) flex-1 group/turn-messages focus-visible:outline-hidden relative flex w-full min-w-0 flex-col agent-turn" data-conversation-screenshot-content=""> <div class="flex max-w-full flex-col gap-4 grow"> <div class="min-h-8 text-message relative flex w-full flex-col items-end gap-2 text-start break-words whitespace-normal outline-none keyboard-focused:focus-ring [.text-message+&amp;]:mt-1" dir="auto" tabindex="0" data-message-author-role="assistant" data-message-id="41c055b4-efc9-493e-be02-60c9af4973ad" data-message-model-slug="gpt-5-5" data-turn-start-message="true"> <div class="flex w-full flex-col gap-1 empty:hidden"> <div class="markdown prose dark:prose-invert wrap-break-word w-full light markdown-new-styling"> <p class="PDq2pG_selectionAnchorContainer" data-start="170" data-end="435">American intelligence agencies believe Iran's new Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei, is significantly more inclined than his late father, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, to pursue nuclear weapons, according to New York Times citing officials familiar with classified US assessments.</p> <p data-start="437" data-end="664">While Ali Khamenei had publicly opposed the development of nuclear weapons and issued a religious decree (fatwa) against their use, US intelligence believes his successor is more receptive to advancing Iran's nuclear ambitions.</p> <p data-start="666" data-end="874">Although Mojtaba Khamenei has never publicly advocated building a nuclear bomb, US agencies assess that he and Iran's new hardline leadership are interested in developing advanced nuclear weapon capabilities.</p> <h2 data-section-id="wiygef" data-start="876" data-end="923"><span role="text">Leadership Change Raises Fresh Concerns</span></h2> <p data-start="925" data-end="1093">The assessment comes after Ayatollah Ali Khamenei was killed in an Israeli strike reportedly supported by US intelligence, triggering a leadership transition in Tehran.</p> <p data-start="1095" data-end="1321">US officials say Mojtaba Khamenei remains in charge despite sustaining serious injuries during the conflict. However, they believe he currently wields less authority than his father, who ruled Iran for more than three decades.</p> <p data-start="1323" data-end="1537">Officials also cautioned that much of the intelligence on Mojtaba Khamenei's views was collected before the recent war, noting that his injuries have significantly reduced his public appearances and communications.</p> <h2 data-section-id="175f68l" data-start="1539" data-end="1579"><span role="text">Trump Weighs Military Escalation</span></h2> <p data-start="1581" data-end="1704">The intelligence assessment comes as US President Donald Trump considers whether to intensify military action against Iran.</p> <p data-start="1706" data-end="1880">According to officials, evidence suggesting that Iran's new leadership may be willing to pursue a nuclear weapon could strengthen the case for additional military operations.</p> <p data-start="1882" data-end="2059">Despite these concerns, US intelligence agencies say Tehran has not yet resumed active nuclear enrichment or restarted its weapons programme following recent US-Israeli strikes.</p> <p data-start="2529" data-end="2677">&nbsp;</p> <p data-start="1882" data-end="2059"><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/536HzbCFtVc?si=UNNapNW7cFkymXzZ" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" data-mce-fragment="1"></iframe></p> <p data-start="1882" data-end="2059">&nbsp;</p> <h2 data-section-id="1pee1ut" data-start="2061" data-end="2119"><span role="text">Iran Moves Nuclear Equipment to 'Pickaxe Mountain'</span></h2> <p data-start="2121" data-end="2277">American officials say Iran has relocated some nuclear centrifuges to a heavily fortified underground complex known as Pickaxe Mountain in central Iran.</p> <p data-start="2279" data-end="2421">The facility, buried deep beneath a mountain, is believed to be beyond the reach of America's most powerful conventional bunker-busting bombs.</p> <p data-start="2423" data-end="2572">US officials believe the move is primarily aimed at protecting critical nuclear infrastructure rather than immediately restarting uranium enrichment.</p> <p data-start="2574" data-end="2758">Satellite imagery and intelligence reports indicate Iran has also reinforced the site with additional ground forces amid concerns that US special forces could attempt a ground assault.</p> <p data-start="2760" data-end="2982">Earlier this week, President Trump described Pickaxe Mountain as "a possible target for a nice big fat shot right in their front door," while claiming the United States had not detected active nuclear work at the facility.</p> <h2 data-section-id="b3r6xl" data-start="2984" data-end="3032"><span role="text">Nuclear Programme Slowed, Not Eliminated</span></h2> <p data-start="3034" data-end="3235">US officials maintain that last year's American strikes on Iran's nuclear facilities at Fordo, Natanz and Isfahan significantly damaged Tehran's programme but did not destroy it completely.</p> <p data-start="3237" data-end="3384">Initial intelligence estimates suggested the attacks delayed Iran's nuclear programme by only several months rather than eliminating it altogether.</p> <p data-start="3386" data-end="3570">Officials believe Iran's stockpile of highly enriched uranium remains intact and accessible, meaning the country still retains the core materials needed for a potential nuclear weapon.</p> <h2 data-section-id="84qs8h" data-start="3572" data-end="3608"><span role="text">A Shift In Nuclear Doctrine?</span></h2> <p data-start="3610" data-end="3788">US intelligence believes Ali Khamenei's religious opposition to nuclear weapons acted as a restraint on Iran's nuclear ambitions, even as Tehran expanded enrichment capabilities.</p> <p data-start="3790" data-end="3873">However, assessments suggest Mojtaba Khamenei does not share the same reservations.</p> <p data-start="3875" data-end="4164">According to US officials, Iran's previous leadership explored developing a basic nuclear device as a deterrent. Intelligence now indicates the new Supreme Leader may favour pursuing more sophisticated thermonuclear warheads capable of being miniaturised for long-range ballistic missiles.</p> <p data-start="4759" data-end="5000" data-is-last-node="" data-is-only-node="">&nbsp;</p> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </div> </div>

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LPG Tanker Disha Carrying 28 Indian Crew Members Attacked In Iranian Waters; All Safe

<p>A Mozambique-flagged LPG tanker DISHA, carrying 28 Indian crew members, came under attack in Iranian territorial waters. All crew members are safe, the Indian Embassy in Tehran said on Friday.</p> <p>In a statement, the embassy said it had remained in close contact with the relevant authorities since the incident involving the tanker, identified by IMO No. 8818219, to ascertain the condition of the crew.</p> <p>"The vessel has 28 Indian crew members on board. The Embassy has been in close contact with the relevant authorities and has confirmed that all Indian crew members are safe," the statement said.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/TQp-gOH_qCY?si=EH6fL3fjAOFLIpcW" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <p>The embassy added that it was continuing to monitor the situation and remained in touch with the concerned authorities.</p> <p>Officials, however, did not disclose the nature of the attack or provide details on the condition of the vessel.</p> <h3>Jaishankar Condemns Attacks On Civilian Shipping</h3> <p>The development comes a day after External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar reiterated India's opposition to attacks on merchant shipping and civilian maritime infrastructure.</p> <p>Addressing the 21st East Asia Summit in Manila on Thursday, Jaishankar said international waterways must remain secure and open in accordance with international law.</p> <p>"India stresses that international waterways must remain safe and unimpeded, fully in consonance with international law," Jaishankar said.</p> <p>"Under no circumstances can attacks on seafarers, civilian shipping or infrastructure be countenanced," he added.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ:<a href="https://ift.tt/Au8O9on"> Russia Warns Black Sea Is Unsafe For Navigation After Spike In Ukrainian Strikes</a></strong></p> <h3>India Issues Advisory For Seafarers</h3> <p>The incident comes amid heightened security concerns in the Gulf region and continuing attacks on merchant vessels.</p> <p>Earlier this month, the Directorate General of Maritime Administration (DGMA) advised ship owners, ship managers and Recruitment and Placement Service Licence (RPSL) companies to avoid deploying Indian seafarers on vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz until further orders.</p> <p>In a July 17 advisory, the DGMA said the "safety, security and welfare of Indian seafarers" remained central to its mandate.</p> <p>The advisory cited recent attacks on merchant vessels, including Mombasa B, Al Bahyah, GFS Galaxy, MT WEDYAN and AL REKAYYAT, saying the incidents had significantly increased the risks faced by commercial ships and their crews operating in the conflict-affected region.</p> <p>"In view of the heightened security situation in the Persian Gulf region, including incidents resulting in casualties among Indian seafarers and continuing attacks on merchant vessels during the ongoing conflict, the Directorate considers it necessary to adopt enhanced precautionary measures to safeguard the interests of Indian seafarers serving on board ships operating in the region," the advisory said.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/bangladesh-president-mohammed-shahabuddin-resigns-citing-health-issues-1858430">Bangladesh President Mohammed Shahabuddin Resigns Citing Health Issues</a></strong></p>

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California’s Diwali holiday law faces legal challenge

<p> Washington, Jul 24 (PTI): A California law recognising Diwali as an official state holiday has run into a legal challenge with the court finding it in violation of several provisions of the federal and state constitutions.</p><p> “The Court finds that AB 268 violates several provisions of the federal and state constitutions by giving Diwali special treatment expressly based on its religious importance without any significant secular considerations,” said Judge Stephen Acquisto of the Superior Court of California.</p><p> AB 268 refers to the bill passed by the California state assembly last year that added ‘Diwali’ to the list of state holidays.</p><p> The judge ruled on a petition filed by the San Francisco Taxpayers Association.</p><p> The judge made it clear that the Court’s ruling only addresses the constitutionality of AB 268, a specific piece of legislation, based on its express terms and legislative history.  “The Court is not making broader findings about the nature of Diwali that would preclude future legislation designating Diwali as a state holiday for constitutionally valid reasons,” Judge Acquisto said.</p><p> In a statement, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) said the court ruling focused on the wording of the law describing the religious significance of Diwali, rather than the practical purpose of the holiday.</p><p> “HAF is monitoring this lawsuit and will continue supporting Hindu Americans in California as we work to protect the ability of our community to celebrate the holidays that matter,” the advocacy group said in a statement.  A final judgement in favour of the petitioners on the issue is awaited. PTI SKU SKS SKS</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>

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Russia Warns Black Sea Is Unsafe For Navigation After Spike In Ukrainian Strikes

<p>Russia has warned that its exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea is no longer safe for navigation following a rise in Ukrainian strikes on vessels, according to a Bloomberg report.</p> <p>The warning comes as shipping companies have suspended services to Black Sea ports amid escalating attacks in the region.</p> <h2><strong>Russia Issues Navigation Warning</strong></h2> <p>According to a weekly bulletin published on the website of Russia's Defence Ministry, the advisory was issued to all vessels operating within the country's exclusive economic zone in the Black Sea.</p> <p>The notice cited potential threats from Ukraine's unmanned aerial and marine vehicles.</p> <p>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</p> <h2><strong>Attacks On Vessels Intensify</strong></h2> <p>The warning followed an escalation in Ukraine's attacks on ships operating in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov.</p> <p>According to statements from Ukraine's General Staff, at least 124 Russia-linked vessels, including 89 tankers, were targeted between July 8 and July 20.</p> <p>The reported number of attacked vessels could not be independently verified.</p> <h2><strong>UN Raises Concerns Over Seafarer Safety</strong></h2> <p>UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk expressed concern over the safety of seafarers operating in the Sea of Azov and the Black Sea.</p> <p>The UN human rights office said it had verified at least four attacks on civilian vessels in Ukraine's Odesa region this month, in which 34 vessel workers were killed or injured.</p> <h2><strong>UN Urges Protection For Seafarers</strong></h2> <p>Highlighting the risks faced by maritime workers, Volker Turk's spokeswoman, Shabia Mantoo, said:</p> <p>"Seafarers should not be forced or compelled to endanger their lives by sailing through conflict zones. Nor should they face the risk of reprisal by shipowners if they decline these assignments."</p> <p>ALSO READ:&nbsp;</p>

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'My Partner Is Half-Indian': Musk Rubbishes Racism Claims, Says Son Named After Physicist Chandrasekhar

<p>Tesla and SpaceX CEO Elon Musk has rejected allegations that he is racist, saying his partner is half-Indian and that the companies he leads employ people of diverse backgrounds in senior positions.</p> <p>In an interview with The Economist, Musk was asked about criticism that labels him a "racist."</p> <p>"My partner is half-Indian. I have four children with her, one of them was named after a famous Indian phycisit," he said.</p> <p>Musk argued that the diversity within his companies contradicted such allegations.</p> <p>"So I would say I'm not a racist. If you look at people that are employed at my companies, we have senior executives of all races. I don't think there is any racism there," he added.</p> <h3>Musk On Claims Of Being 'Anti-Muslim'</h3> <p>When asked whether he was "anti-Muslim," Musk did not directly answer the question but said his opposition was directed at people who sought to impose values incompatible with those of Western societies.</p> <p>"If people are coming to a country with antithetical views, I am against that. I'm against rape and murder. I'm against the imposition of rules and laws that are contrary to what we've come to accept in the West."</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/business/us-tariff-on-india-us-imposes-10-tariff-on-indian-imports-over-forced-labour-amid-trade-deal-1858270">US Imposes 10% Tariff On Indian Imports Over Forced Labour Probe As Trade Deal Talks Continue</a></strong></p> <h3>Musk Defends Remarks On European Politics</h3> <p>The interview also touched on Musk's interventions in European politics despite not living in Europe.</p> <p>Asked why he believed he should influence political debates there, Musk said he viewed Western countries collectively.</p> <p>"I think of it as sort of the West collectively," Musk replied.</p> <p>When told that many people objected to the political influence wielded by someone with his wealth and reach, Musk said he was unconcerned by criticism.</p> <p>"Yes, some people do. Maybe some people do loathe me. And that's probably true. I don't care. But the fact that, as you pointed out, a quarter billion people follow me is that I think a lot more people actually like me than don't."</p> <p>Musk has more than 240 million followers on X, the social media platform he owns.</p> <p><strong>ALSO READ: <a href="https://news.abplive.com/news/world/saudi-prince-found-dead-in-london-hotel-after-consuming-party-drug-alcohol-prescription-medicine-1858307">Saudi Prince Found Dead In London Hotel After Consuming Party Drugs, Alcohol Overdose</a></strong></p> <h3>Tesla CEO Calls For AI Safety Collaboration</h3> <p>During the interview, Musk also urged leading artificial intelligence companies to cooperate more closely on safety and security issues.</p> <p>He proposed regular meetings between major AI firms to discuss potential risks associated with advanced AI models.</p> <p>"The most immediate thing that we could do is to have the leading AI companies ... have some sort of call once every few weeks and just discuss any safety and security issues," Musk said.</p> <p>He also suggested that competing AI firms should review each other's most advanced models before public release to identify potential safety concerns.</p> <p>According to Musk, if a company failed to address significant risks identified during such reviews, "that would be the moment for government to step in and take action."</p>

source https://news.abplive.com/news/world/elon-musk-rubbishes-racism-claims-says-partner-is-half-indian-son-named-after-indian-physicist-chandrasekhar-1858380

US Tariff Shake-Up Explained: Why Section 301 Replaces Section 122 And What It Means For India

<p>The United States has replaced its temporary tariff regime under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 with a new framework under Section 301, ensuring that additional duties on many imports, including those from India, continue beyond July 24.</p> <p>For India, the immediate impact on most exports is limited as the tariff remains at 10 per cent. However, the shift is significant because it replaces a temporary emergency provision with a legal mechanism that allows Washington to maintain tariffs for a much longer period.</p> <p>The move follows the expiry of the 10 per cent tariff imposed under Section 122, which automatically lapsed after completing its statutory 150-day period. Instead of allowing those duties to end, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) introduced fresh tariffs under Section 301 after concluding investigations into 60 economies over their handling of imports produced using forced labour.</p> <h2><strong>India Gets Lower Tariff Than Most Countries</strong></h2> <p>On July 23, the USTR, acting on President Donald Trump's direction, announced the outcome of its investigations into imports allegedly produced with forced labour, reported Moneycontrol.</p> <p>Under the final determination, India is among 17 economies that will face a 10 per cent tariff under Section 301, compared with the 12.5 per cent duty imposed on most of the investigated economies.</p> <p>According to the USTR, India qualified for the lower tariff because it has introduced measures to restrict imports made using forced labour.</p> <p>For Indian exporters, the practical impact is largely unchanged. The earlier 10 per cent surcharge under Section 122 has simply been replaced by a 10 per cent Section 301 tariff, which will continue to apply in addition to the normal US most-favoured-nation (MFN) duty.</p> <p><iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/oH57fZTfyX0?si=z1b2sISpLSQWzJMn" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe></p> <h2><strong>Why The US Switched To Section 301</strong></h2> <p>Section 122 allows the US President to impose temporary tariffs of up to 15 per cent to address balance-of-payments concerns, but only for a maximum of 150 days unless Congress approves an extension.</p> <p>President Trump invoked the provision in February after the US Supreme Court ruled that reciprocal tariffs imposed under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA) lacked legal authority.</p> <p>With the Section 122 tariffs expiring on July 24, Washington shifted to Section 301, which permits tariffs following formal trade investigations and does not carry the same statutory time limit.</p> <p>Unlike the temporary emergency powers under Section 122, Section 301 provides the Trump administration with a longer-lasting legal basis to maintain tariffs.</p> <p><strong>Also Read : <a title="US Imposes 10% Tariff On Indian Imports Over Forced Labour Probe As Trade Deal Talks Continue" href="https://ift.tt/3jvtdSG" target="_self">US Imposes 10% Tariff On Indian Imports Over Forced Labour Probe As Trade Deal Talks Continue</a></strong></p> <h2><strong>What Changes For Indian Exporters</strong></h2> <p>Although the legal framework has changed, the tariff burden on most Indian exports remains broadly the same.</p> <p>Affected goods will continue to attract a 10 per cent tariff in addition to the applicable MFN duty under World Trade Organisation (WTO) rules.</p> <p>MFN duties vary across sectors. Pharmaceuticals, semiconductors and several electronic products generally attract low or zero tariffs, while textiles, garments, leather products and certain engineering goods continue to face higher baseline duties.</p> <p>The USTR has also exempted several categories of imports, including raw materials critical to US supply chains, products likely to cause wider economic disruption if taxed, goods that are not readily available from US or alternative suppliers, and certain imports from countries including India aimed at encouraging stronger enforcement of forced labour restrictions.</p> <p>The latest measures also leave Section 232 national security tariffs unchanged.</p> <p>These products account for around 8 per cent of India's exports to the United States and include steel, aluminium, certain copper products, automobiles and specified auto components.</p> <p>According to Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), steel products continue to face total duties of 52.5 per cent, aluminium products 55 per cent and covered auto components 27.5 per cent.</p> <h2><strong>More Tariff Risks Could Follow</strong></h2> <p>The forced labour investigation represents only the first completed Section 301 probe.</p> <p>According to the USTR, the review involved consultations with more than 45 governments, public hearings and over 3,700 public submissions before concluding that 60 economies had failed to effectively prevent imports produced using forced labour.</p> <p>The final tariff structure includes:</p> <p>10 per cent tariff: India, Canada, the United Kingdom, Mexico, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Malaysia, Indonesia and other economies that have enacted or committed to restrictions on forced labour imports.<br />10-12.5 per cent tariff: Selected products from the European Union, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan and Switzerland.<br />12.5 per cent tariff: Remaining investigated economies.</p> <p>Separately, the USTR is conducting another Section 301 investigation into structural excess manufacturing capacity in around 15 economies, including India. If it concludes that government policies have distorted global trade through industrial overcapacity, additional tariffs could follow.</p> <p>The tariff changes also come as India and the United States continue negotiating an interim trade agreement that could eventually expand into a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).</p> <p>According to GTRI, between August 27, 2025 and February 23, 2026, nearly 55 per cent of India's exports to the US, including engineering goods, textiles, chemicals, machinery, plastics, leather products, gems and jewellery, were subject to the applicable MFN tariff along with an additional 50 per cent duty.</p> <p>That included a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff and another 25 per cent surcharge linked to India's purchases of Russian crude oil.</p> <p>Another 37 per cent of exports, including smartphones, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals and energy products, remained outside the reciprocal tariff regime and continued to pay only the applicable MFN tariff.</p> <h2><strong>Pharmaceutical Exports Face A Separate Challenge</strong></h2> <p>The latest Section 301 tariffs do not directly affect India's pharmaceutical exports. However, the sector faces a separate long-term challenge.</p> <p>The Trump administration has proposed imposing a 100 per cent tariff on imported generic medicines from August 2028, rising to 200 per cent from August 2029, as part of efforts to boost pharmaceutical manufacturing in the United States.</p> <p>India is the largest exporter of finished generic medicines to the US. Industry estimates based on US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and trade data suggest Indian companies account for around 40-50 per cent of generic prescriptions dispensed there.</p> <p>China, meanwhile, remains the world's largest producer of active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which are widely used in medicine manufacturing.</p> <p>The proposal gives manufacturers a two-year window before duties begin but could have significant implications for Indian drugmakers that rely heavily on the US market.</p> <p>The proposed tariffs on generic medicines are separate from earlier measures covering branded pharmaceutical products. In April, President Trump signed an executive order imposing 100 per cent tariffs on branded drug imports unless manufacturers agreed to government-backed pricing arrangements or committed to producing medicines within the US.</p> <p>Several multinational pharmaceutical companies had already secured exemptions from those tariffs last year, and the latest proposal does not alter those arrangements.</p> <p><strong>Also Read :&nbsp;<a title="Centre Defends E20 Fuel In Parliament, Says No Verified Evidence Of Widespread Engine Failure" href="https://ift.tt/wagpzBO" target="_self">Centre Defends E20 Fuel In Parliament, Says No Verified Evidence Of Widespread Engine Failure</a></strong></p> <h2><strong>What It Means For India</strong></h2> <p>For India, the immediate tariff impact is limited because most exports covered under the earlier Section 122 measure will continue to face a 10 per cent duty under Section 301.</p> <p>The more significant change is that Washington now has a stronger legal framework to maintain these tariffs beyond the 150-day limit that applied under Section 122. With another Section 301 investigation already underway and proposed duties on generic medicines still under consideration, Indian exporters could continue to face evolving trade risks even as New Delhi and Washington pursue a broader bilateral trade agreement.</p>

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US slaps 10 per cent tariffs on goods imported from India on issue forced labour

<p>Washington, Jul 24 (PTI): The US imposed 10 per cent tariffs on goods purchased from India and 16 other countries over the issue of the use of forced labour in the production of such items.</p><p> US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced the new tariffs on 60 countries under Section 301 of the Trade Act on Friday, a day before the expiration of 10 per cent additional levies on all countries.</p><p> The USTR statement said that Greer had taken the final action, at President Donald Trump’s direction, under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 by imposing tariffs on 60 economies for their failure to impose and effectively enforce a prohibition on the importation of goods produced with forced labour.</p><p> The action will begin to correct what is both a human rights abuse and a distortive trade practice to improve the welfare of workers everywhere,” Greer said in a statement here.</p><p> The 10 per cent tariff rate applies to 17 countries, including India, Canada, the UK, Bangladesh and Pakistan.</p><p> Earlier, India was bracketed in countries attracting 12.5 per cent tariffs.</p><p> A Federal Note in this regard took note of India's adoption of a forced labour import prohibition after the unveiling of the proposed tariffs in June.</p><p> On June 14, India amended its foreign trade policy to prohibit the import of goods produced using forced labour.</p><p> The Trump administration had initiated the two investigations after the US Supreme Court, in February, dismissed last year's "reciprocal tariffs" using emergency powers as illegal. The administration responded by levying 10 per cent tariffs on all countries that expire on Friday.</p><p> India has contested both the investigations initiated by the USTR and insisted that these issues can be discussed as part of the bilateral trade agreement that is under discussion.</p><p> The US is India's second largest trade partner and the largest destination for exports. In 2025, bilateral goods trade was pegged at nearly USD 141 billion, with India's exports pegged at USD 87.3 billion, according to commerce department data. PTI SKU MPL MPL</p><p><i>(This story is published as part of the auto-generated syndicate wire feed. No editing has been done in the headline or the body by ABP Live.)</i></p>

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