NEW DELHI: Germen envoy Georg Enzweiler on Tuesday termed US imposition of tariffs on different countries as an “obstacles to free trade.”While talking to the media, the deputy head of mission, German Embassy in India said that the countries should always be in favour of reducing tariffs to the minimum level.”Tariffs are obstacles to free trade,” Enzeiler said.”We would always be in favour of reducing tariffs to the minimum level,” he added. This comes after US notified India over the implementation of additional tariffs set to take effect from August 27.Issued by the department of homeland security, the notice said that the tariffs were imposed in response to “threats to the United States by the government of Russian Federation,” with India being targeted for new duties as part of the policy.”The duties set out in the Annex to this document are effective with respect to products of India that are entered for consumption, or withdrawn from warehouse for consumption, on or after 12.01am eastern daylight time on August 27, 2025,” the notice read.”To address that unusual and extraordinary threat to the national security and foreign policy of the United States, Executive Order 14066 prohibited, among other things, the importation into the United States of certain products of Russian Federation origin, including crude oil; petroleum; and petroleum fuels, oils, and products of their distillation,” it added.The notice also listed a broad range of Indian products listed in the annex. It said that tariffs will apply to any goods that arrive for use or are taken out of warehouses after the deadline.
