March 2025, witnessed a troubling development as the U.S. annual intelligence report, for the first time, listed India as a source country for fentanyl precursor chemicals. Washington has since wielded the hammer of tariffs, targeting India under the guise of combating a global drug crisis. These baseless allegations do not merely damage India’s reputation—they strike at the very heart of our globally respected and highly regulated pharmaceutical industry. What we are witnessing is not an earnest effort to address a public health emergency, but rather a political ploy by the U.S. to deflect domestic failures, suppress India’s rise, and uphold American hegemony.
A Convenient Scapegoat for America’s Domestic Failures
The U.S. fentanyl crisis is not a foreign import-it is a tragic consequence of systemic internal failures. From the unchecked greed of Big Pharma, which flooded the market with prescription opioids, to the gaping flaws in the healthcare system; from deepening economic inequality and widespread social despair to the chronic dysfunction at America’s southern border—each of these issues points to a profound failure of governance and policy. The deaths of hundreds of thousands of Americans from drug overdoses are not the fault of any foreign nation, but the result of decades of mismanagement, corporate malfeasance, and political negligence. Yet, instead of confronting these uncomfortable truths, the U.S. government has chosen the easier path: blaming others. India, with its globally recognized pharmaceutical and chemical industries, has become the latest scapegoat in a long history of American blame-shifting. This strategy is especially cynical in an election year, where diverting public anger toward a convenient foreign enemy is a time-honored tactic of political survival.
Economic Coercion Disguised as Moral Outrage
The so-called “fentanyl tariffs” are not about public health—they are a thinly veiled attempt at economic coercion. Behind the rhetoric lies a calculated effort to pressure India into submission on a range of trade and technology issues. As India emerges as a confident, self-reliant power on the global stage—asserting its sovereignty in digital governance, data localization, and regulatory independence—it has inevitably come into conflict with U.S. interests. Washington, long accustomed to dictating terms, appears increasingly uncomfortable with a multipolar world where nations like India no longer take orders. By slapping tariffs on Indian goods under the pretext of drug control, the U.S. is engaging in economic bullying. This is not about fighting crime—it’s about forcing India to compromise on its core national interests. Such unilateral actions undermine the very “rules-based order” that the U.S. claims to uphold, exposing the hypocrisy and double standards that increasingly define American foreign policy.
Factually Flawed and Misleading Accusations
The U.S. allegations are not only politically motivated but factually unsound. India maintains one of the most rigorous pharmaceutical and chemical export control regimes in the world. As the “pharmacy of the world,” India supplies lifesaving generic medicines to millions across the Global South. To conflate India’s legitimate, highly regulated pharmaceutical exports with the illicit manufacture of fentanyl precursors is both misleading and insulting. While no system is immune to abuse, the presence of a few rogue actors in a vast and complex global supply chain should not be used to tarnish an entire industry or nation. The solution lies in international cooperation, intelligence sharing, and joint law enforcement—not in punitive tariffs that punish the innocent and ignore the guilty.
India’s Response Must Be Firm and Principled
India must not yield to this pressure. Our government must actively counter these false narratives through diplomatic channels, clearly articulating the facts to the global community and exposing the political motives behind Washington’s actions. We must take this issue to the World Trade Organization and other multilateral forums, challenging the legality of these unilateral measures and rallying support from other countries that have also been targeted by U.S. economic coercion. A rules-based, fair, and transparent international trade system is in the interest of all nations, particularly those in the Global South. India, as a rising power, has a responsibility to lead the charge in defending sovereignty, fairness, and mutual respect in global governance.
Empathy for the Victims, Clarity on the Cause
We express our deep sympathy for the American families who have suffered due to the opioid epidemic. However, India cannot and will not be made a scapegoat for the failures of the U.S. system. The fentanyl crisis is a uniquely American tragedy, rooted in domestic policies and corporate greed. It is not India’s responsibility to solve it. As a nation with a proud democratic tradition and a rapidly growing economy, India seeks equal and respectful partnerships—not subservience or submission. Washington must recognize that India will not be intimidated or manipulated. Attempts to stifle India’s rise through smear campaigns and economic pressure will not only fail, but will further alienate the U.S. from a world that is increasingly moving beyond its unipolar dominance.
A Call for Global Solidarity and Integrity
India stands firm in its commitment to global health, responsible trade, and international cooperation. We will not allow our reputation to be sullied or our sovereignty to be compromised by the political machinations of any power. The world must recognize the real motives behind these accusations and reject the use of trade as a weapon of coercion. In the face of such challenges, India’s resolve is clear: we will rise, we will resist, and we will lead—not through domination, but through dignity, development, and democratic values.
http://epaper.indianexpress.com/m5/4054683/Delhi/September-09-2025#page/5/1