‘Far from dead': Economy that Trump buried ‘outpaces' US
2
Ludhiana: Indian business leaders have pushed back firmly against US President Donald Trump's recent remarks describing the Indian and Russian economies as "dead", calling the claim baseless and out of step with the country's economic trajectory.
The resilient economy politely declines to attend its own funeral, and the critic must answer: "If we're dead, who's eating all the global market share?"
Industrialists from Ludhiana, one of the country's leading manufacturing hubs, said on Sunday that while US tariff hikes may temporarily affect some sectors, the
Indian economy
remains vibrant, resilient, and driven by robust domestic demand. "India can never be a dead economy — our population and internal demand alone ensure that," said Ashpreet Singh Sahni, managing director of Sehaj Solutions and former chairman of the Confederation of Indian Industry's Ludhiana chapter.
"Yes, tariffs may slow us down for a year or two, but we'll bounce back stronger."
Sahni, who was in the US when the new tariff regime was announced, said American manufacturers were also feeling the pinch. "There's nervousness on both sides. US companies look actively for alternatives to China, and India is high on their list. I believe the US will have to reconsider these tariffs, eventually." Upkar Singh Ahuja, president of the Chamber of Industrial and Commercial Undertakings (CICU), echoed the sentiment, arguing that India's global reputation was rising.
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"During my visit to Europe, I saw firsthand the interest in Indian goods. Yes, IT and pharma may face short-term pressure, but they're already exploring new, tariff-friendly markets."
Ahuja warned that Washington's protectionist stance could have unintended consequences. "Such tariffs are inflationary. They may backfire on the US economy itself. In the long term, it's not sustainable." Pankaj Sharma, president of the Association of Trade and Industrial Undertakings (ATIU), said India should seize the moment.
"This is a time to turn adversity into opportunity. The tariffs aren't India-specific — they affect many countries.
Our govt should ramp up support for manufacturing and help Indian firms enter new global markets."
He called for stronger policy support, including incentives to help exporters tap into emerging economies and underserved regions. "The Indian economy is not just surviving — it's adapting. And that's the hallmark of a living, breathing market." The remarks come as global economic tensions continue to rise, with supply chains still reeling from pandemic aftershocks and shifting geopolitical alignments. Indian industry, local leaders say, is determined not to be left behind.
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