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News18
2 days ago
- Business
- News18
Trumps tariff on India major setback in bilateral relations, say experts
New York/Washington, Jul 30 (PTI) US President Donald Trump's move to levy a sweeping 25 per cent tariff on Indian imports is a 'major setback" in bilateral relations at a time when New Delhi is striving to become an alternative destination to China for American investors and traders, a former US Trade Representative official said. 'While there were early indications that a trade deal with India was imminent, it turned out that this was not possible," Senior Vice President of Asia Society Policy Institute (ASPI) and former Deputy US Trade Representative Wendy Cutler said in a statement. Trump on Wednesday announced imposing a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from India starting August 1, plus an unspecified penalty for buying Russian crude oil and military equipment. The surprise announcement came a day after Indian officials said that a US trade team would visit from August 25 to negotiate a trade deal. Cutler said the 25 per cent tariff assigned to India is a 'major setback" in US-India relations at a time when Delhi is striving to become an alternative destination to China for US investors and traders. 'Hopefully, the high tariff will spur India to reconsider its current positions and take bold steps to address US concerns, including lowering its tariffs and eliminating the litany of non-tariff measures it imposes," she said. Pointing to India's 'domestic protectionist forces" that have obstructed trade deals earlier, Cutler said there were hopes that things were different this time around but 'they never materialized". ASPI's Director of South Asia Intitiatives Farwa Aamer said there was strong optimism around the robust five rounds of trade talks, but clearly there was not enough to satisfy Washington's expectations. 'These negotiations were always going to be complex, and even with an early start to the talks, the timeline was too tight given India's sectoral concerns and strong reservations on opening access to its dairy and agriculture markets," Aamer said. The 25 per cent rate is much higher than that of Japan, Vietnam, and Indonesia, which means India loses some of its competitive advantage. 'This will certainly impact the export sector, making the case for fast-tracking negotiations on the BTA as they go into the next round of talks in August," she said. Aamer added that the measure may also 'dim" the confidence in the US-India bilateral relationship. 'There is the India-Pakistan ceasefire mediation narrative that the president has championed and India has repeatedly dismissed. The Russia and BRICS angle is another factor. All eyes are on how India will deal with this 'temporary measure'," Aamer said. Former advisor to President Joe Biden and a Democrat Ajay Bhutoria voiced 'serious alarm" over the 25 per cent tariff and penalty announced by Trump on India, characterizing this action as 'signalling the deepest decline" in India-US relations under the current administration. In a post on social media, Trump said that the US has a massive trade deficit with India and also criticised India for buying a 'vast majority" of its military equipment and energy from Russia. Bhutoria said that as a committed Democrat, he is 'profoundly" concerned by this development. 'I had earlier cautioned the Indian-American community about the potential for this outcome" and to vote for Democratic leader and former Vice President Kamala Harris in the 2024 elections. 'Now we are experiencing its effects. The tariff puts the livelihoods of numerous South Asians at risk and jeopardizes years of advancement done in US-India relationship under President (Barack) Obama and President Biden," he said. Bhutoria added that the India-USA relationship has fallen to its most challenging phase due to flawed policies, with this 25 per cent tariff plus penalty set to start on August 1st, adding that this 'stringent measure" endangers 'our economic stability and cultural connections". Trump also said that the August 1 deadline for tariffs stands strong and will not be extended. 'A Big Day for America," he said. 'Remember, while India is our friend, we have, over the years, done relatively little business with them because their Tariffs are far too high, among the highest in the World, and they have the most strenuous and obnoxious non-monetary Trade Barriers of any Country. Also, they have always bought a vast majority of their military equipment from Russia, and are Russia's largest buyer of energy, along with China, at a time when everyone wants Russia to stop the killing in Ukraine — All things not Good! 'India will therefore be paying a tariff of 25 per cent, plus a penalty for the above, starting on August 1st," Trump said. Meanwhile, the Indian government said in a statement that it has taken note of Trump's statement on tariffs and is studying its implications. 'India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months. We remain committed to that objective," the statement said. 'The government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of our farmers, entrepreneurs and MSMEs. The government will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements, including the latest comprehensive economic and trade agreement with the UK," it sad. PTI YAS HVA (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: July 30, 2025, 22:30 IST News agency-feeds Trumps tariff on India major setback in bilateral relations, say experts Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Glasgow Times
23-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Glasgow Times
New TV series lifts lid on Glasgow law firm's fight for families
That night, in 1991, changed his life. He successfully raised a civil action against the police, switched from mechanical engineering to law, and now heads up one of the UK's leading human rights law firms. Last year, he and his team in Glasgow pulled back the curtain on their day-to-day work for the docuseries, The Firm. Aamer Anwar (Image: STV Studios) Now, it's back on BBC Scotland for series two – slimmed down to just three episodes, this time, as Aamer and staff focus on representing victims whose cases speak directly to major societal issues. 'This series is more raw,' nods Aamer. 'The type of work we do is deeply traumatic for the families, and I think more of that comes across in this series. 'For some of them, the fight has been going on for a long, long time. I think what the show does is let people see the impact that has on the families. We can't get that across in a 30-second soundbite outside court. 'The show is a platform that raises awareness of their campaigns, gets their voices heard, shows the extent of the lies, obstruction and cynicism often faced in the fight for justice.' Aamer Anwar with the family of Katie Allan (Image: STV Studios) He adds: 'And, I think, it gives people hope that someone, at least, is listening.' The first episode, available on BBC iPlayer, focused on Margaret Caldwell, mother of murdered Glasgow woman Emma Caldwell, as she tries to secure a public inquiry into police handling of her daughter's murder. In 2024, Iain Packer was jailed for life with a minimum of 36 years for killing Emma and it emerged during his trial that Packer had been accused of rape and violent attacks on dozens of women as far back as 1990, but police had failed to act. (Image: PA) Episode two, on BBC Scotland tonight (June 24) sees Aamer set his sights on abolishing crown immunity laws which prevent institutions like the Scottish Prison Service being held criminally responsible for deaths in custody. The bereaved families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay, who both took their own lives at a young offenders' institution, talk to Aamer in a bid to pursue a major change in the law that could bring a degree of justice and possibly help to save lives in the future. The final episode in the series focuses on several asylum cases being handled by The Firm's immigration team. (Image: STV Studios) As well as a behind-the-scenes look at the tactical manoeuvres, setbacks and controversies involved in lengthy legal proceedings, The Firm, which is produced by STV Studios Factual, examines Aamer's personal motivations for taking on such challenging and unrelenting cases. 'People ask us how we can keep going but the answer is that we get inspiration from these families,' says Aamer. 'The people we feature in this series are inspirational, especially the mothers. Mothers are a force of nature. They never give up.' He adds: 'This series will show you the families we are honoured to work with, who symbolise what justice should be about, not a gentleman's club, not the vanity of wigs and gowns, but ordinary people who demand justice as a right and not a privilege. 'No lawyer should ever be afraid to raise their voice for the truth and I hope The Firm shows that is exactly what we fight to do.' All episodes of The Firm are available to stream now on BBC iPlayer and the series continues tonight at 9pm on BBC Scotland.
Time of India
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Appetite for global cinema growing in India, want to bring every genre: PVR Inox's Aamer Bijli
Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads From horror lovers to rom-com and anime enthusiasts, India's filmgoers have diverse tastes and PVR Inox Ltd wants to be the go-to destination for global cinema across formats and genres, says Aamer Bijli , the company's lead strategist for marketing and company is making a major strategic push in bringing international cinema to Indian audiences, starting with the premiere of the upcoming action thriller "Ballerina", headlined by Hollywood star Ana de the next one year, PVR Inox will be distributing some of the major Hollywood titles, both big-budget and indie, from top studios like Lionsgate, A24, Neon, Black Bear and FilmNation."What we see as the future is to ensure that the growing appetite in India is quenched. Essentially every appetite has a particular genre, and we want to be at the forefront of bringing that genre to the Indian market. And this is a combination of international films as well as local films."Our business fires on three engines, which are Hollywood films , the Hindi local segment and live events. So we want to really become a prolific player in all three categories," Aamer, son of PVR Inox managing director Ajay Bijli, told PTI in an a premiere event for "Ballerina", held at PVR Juhu in Mumbai, the company gave a glimpse into the next four titles that it will be distributing in India -- "Smashing Machine", starring Dwayne Johnson; "Now You See Me: Now You Don't", the third part in Lionsgate heist franchise; Aziz Ansari-directed comedy "Good Fortune", featuring Keanu Reeves and Seth Rogen; and anime film "Shinchan: Kasukabe Dancers".Besides, PVR Inox has a robust slate for the year 2025-26, spanning genres like horror, musicals, drama, romance, and includes five films from critically-acclaimed studio A24. The movies are -- "The Riders" with Brad Pitt; "The Drama" with Robert Pattinson and Zendaya; "Marty Supreme" with Timothee Chalamet; "Onslaught" with Adria Arjona and Dan Stevens; and "Sorry Baby" from actor-director Eva Lionsgate, it will be bringing out "The Strangers: Chapter 2" and "SAW 11". It will also distribute Neon's "The Housewife", starring Naomi Watts, in the Black Bear Pictures, PVR Inox will distribute filmmaker Guy Ritchie's "The Wife undefined "Afterburn", starring Samuel L Jackson; "Fred undefined Zac Efron's "Famous"; and "I Want Your Sex", starring Olivia Wilde."We've always tried to maintain a very fruitful and amicable relationship with these studios. It's always been a to-and-fro to understand what films they're producing, what films the international audience is liking, and what films resonate with India."We have exponentially grown in terms of size because now independent cinema is also really demanding big budgets. A lot of big actors are being associated with independent films and it's really going to grow," Aamer about the content acquisition strategy of PVR Inox, he said genre plays a pivotal role."There are certain genres that cut across the language barrier more than others. And the major genre that does this is action films. Some films that even we don't dub tend to see its day in the sun."But action firms are notorious for their dubbable ability. You can dub it into all the languages and that's something we specialise, in regional and Hindi language to dub these films in. So that's a big part of the strategy."Another aspect of the strategy is to identify studios as well as independent banners that are credible to partner, Aamer added."We have a very long standing relationship with Lionsgate. We have an output deal with them, and we represent the India office. They have very big budget films such as the 'John Wick' universe, which they want to bring and which suits India," he final piece in the puzzle is the star cast attached to a project, Aamer stressed."There are certain actors and actresses that people resonate with more than others. Sometimes the story, the prowess, the writing, is enough to carry a film forward, but sometimes it needs the extra power, which is the star cast. And it makes these potential content acquisitions possible and gives relevance for the Indian market," he forward, Aamer is optimistic about India's rising stature as a key market for international films, especially when it comes to hosting premieres and other promotional events of major Hollywood titles."It would really boost the momentum for the film. Films like 'Avatar: The Way of Water', which released two years ago, and 'Oppenheimer', they all did so well that they were comparable with global box office numbers as well."Even in the independent film space. Like 'John Wick' for example. 'John Wick 4' did exceedingly well for us. I think it clocked about USD 4.5 million, which is a very respectable number compared to the grand scheme."India can truly emerge as a global cinema destination if more international films receive commercial success in the country, he added."I don't see why studios won't start looking at India as a destination to host premiers, festivals, and all these marque events. I think it is just a matter of time," Aamer said.
The Herald Scotland
10-06-2025
- Entertainment
- The Herald Scotland
The Firm: controversial fly-on-wall legal doc is back
Episode two finds the solicitor and campaigner set his sights on abolishing Crown immunity laws which prevent institutions such as the Scottish Prison Service being held criminally responsible for deaths in custody. The final episode focuses on several asylum cases being handled by The Firm's immigration team, including that of a Namibian woman who came to Scotland to claim asylum based on her sexuality and the domestic violence she faced in Namibia. The press release for The Firm says it promises 'a unique and unfiltered insight into all the tactical manoeuvres, setbacks, controversies and battles involved in lengthy legal proceedings, as well as highlighting Aamer and his team's personal motivations for taking on such challenging and unrelenting work'. The new series, narrated by Gail Porter and produced by STV Studios Factual, is a follow-up to The Firm, which aired on BBC Scotland in 2023 and is available to stream on BBC iPlayer. The first series attracted criticism for its blend of serious legal matters and light-hearted office politics. Review: Whose terrible idea was this? Aamer Anwar said: 'This series will show you the families we are honoured to work with, who inspire us, who symbolise what justice should be about, not a gentleman's club, not the vanity of wigs and gowns, but ordinary people who demand justice as a right and not a privilege. No lawyer should ever be afraid to raise their voice for the truth and I hope The Firm shows that is exactly what we fight to do.' The Firm launches on BBC Scotland at 9pm on Tuesday 17 June, with all episodes on BBC iPlayer the same day.
Glasgow Times
10-06-2025
- Glasgow Times
BBC TV series with Glasgow lawyer Aamer Anwar returns
The Firm, featuring lawyer and campaigner Aamer Anwar, will be back for a new series on BBC Scotland from Tuesday, June 17 at 9pm, with all episodes made available on BBC iPlayer on the same day. Aamer will take viewers behind the scenes to show how he and his team tackle some of the country's most pressing social issues. Read more: Judge appointed to lead inquiry into investigation of Emma Caldwell's murder The three-part series will focus on individuals whose cases raise significant societal concerns, with the aim of not just helping these victims, but also driving systemic change. The detailed access provided by the show promises to shed light on the challenges of taking on the law, scrutinising institutions, and striving for change within Scotland's legal industry. Its first episode will see Aamer working with Margaret Caldwell, the mother of murdered Glasgow woman Emma Caldwell, as they seek a public inquiry into the police's handling of her daughter's murder. Emma was killed in 2005, and in 2024, Iain Packer was sentenced to life in prison for the murder. During the trial, it emerged that Packer had been accused of rape and violent attacks against dozens of women since 1990, but the police had failed to act. The second episode will focus on Aamer's campaign to abolish crown immunity laws that prevent institutions like the Scottish Prison Service from being held criminally responsible for deaths in custody. Working with the families of Katie Allan and William Lindsay, who both died by suicide at a young offenders' institution, Aamer seeks to drive a legal change that could deliver a measure of justice and potentially save lives in the future. The final episode will shed light on the work of The Firm's immigration team, focusing on several asylum cases, including that of a Namibian woman who came to Scotland seeking refuge due to her sexuality and the domestic violence she faced in her home country. Read more: Emma Caldwell's family to meet John Swinney after public inquiry announcement Throughout the series, viewers will get an unfiltered view of the tactical manoeuvres, setbacks, controversies, and battles involved in long legal proceedings, while also gaining insight into the personal motivations of Aamer and his team. The series, narrated by Gail Porter and produced by STV Studios Factual, is a sequel to The Firm, which aired on BBC Scotland in 2023 and is available on BBC iPlayer. Aamer said: "This series will show you the families we are honoured to work with, who inspire us, who symbolise what justice should be about. "Not a gentleman's club, not the vanity of wigs and gowns, but ordinary people who demand justice as a right and not a privilege. "No lawyer should ever be afraid to raise their voice for the truth and I hope The Firm shows that is exactly what we fight to do."
