Delaware governor Matt Meyer has sharply criticised the United States’ tariff regime targeting India and other nations, calling the measures economically harmful and counterproductive to America’s strategic interests. In an interview during preparations for his upcoming economic mission to India, Meyer — along with Delaware’s Indian-American Secretary of State Charuni Patibanda-Sanchez — outlined why the state is deepening its engagement with Indian industry at a moment when federal policy appears to be pulling in the opposite direction.

Both officials emphasised that Delaware sees India not only as a crucial global economic partner but also as a direct opportunity for the state’s own innovation-driven sectors, including pharmaceuticals, advanced materials, biosciences, financial technology, and software development. Despite rising geopolitical tensions and protectionist impulses in Washington, they argued that local governments like Delaware can play an essential role in sustaining healthy bilateral relationships with key economic partners such as India.

Strengthening Delaware–India Economic Partnerships

Patibanda-Sanchez noted that Delaware has maintained longstanding ties with India, including a sister-state relationship with Gujarat. She explained that the upcoming visit will focus on building new trade and investment linkages in three major Indian cities — Delhi, Mumbai, and Hyderabad — all of which play leading roles in India’s global-facing industries.

Highlighting her own background as an Indian American who grew up in Delaware, she described the deep networks that diaspora communities maintain with their states of origin. These relationships, she argued, can often accelerate economic collaboration more efficiently than formal governmental channels. “Our local ethnic communities can cut through bureaucracy faster than governments,” she said, emphasising the untapped potential these connections hold for Delaware’s economic strategy.

For Governor Meyer, India represents not only a dynamic emerging market but also the world’s largest population base and one of the fastest-growing major economies. He said his decision to make India his first foreign destination as governor reflects a deliberate strategy: to position Delaware as the most accessible and business-friendly entry point into the United States for Indian companies.

“Delaware is hands down the easiest place for any Indian company — large or small — to establish itself in North America,” he said. “Innovations in biomanufacturing, pharmaceuticals, engineering, fintech, and software are happening at an extraordinary pace in India. We want to partner with that momentum, and we want Americans to benefit from it.”

Tariffs on India: “A 50% Tax on the American People”

Meyer did not mince words when discussing the federal tariffs imposed on goods from India — duties that in some cases go as high as 50 percent. Such policies, he argued, amount to a tax on American consumers and businesses, raising costs at a time when household affordability is already under strain.

“The biggest crisis for Delaware families right now is affordability,” he said. “Groceries have never been more expensive. Fuel prices are high. And one big reason is these tariffs, which are simply taxes. If India faces a 50 percent tariff, that means Americans pay 50 percent more for those goods.”

He called the tariff regime “ridiculous” from both an economic and diplomatic standpoint, saying it damages U.S.–India relations and undermines commercial ties that benefit both countries. “Erecting trade barriers harms India, harms Delaware, and harms America,” he said.

Policy Uncertainty Holds Back Investment

Patibanda-Sanchez expanded on this point by describing how tariff volatility and policy unpredictability are deterring companies from committing to new investments. Even firms interested in establishing or expanding operations in Delaware hesitate because they cannot forecast long-term costs.

“We get a lot of interest, but far fewer signed deals,” she said. “The uncertainty — tariffs being imposed, reversed, then revised — makes it hard for companies to plan. Even our own local businesses are waiting and watching. Every state is concerned about this climate.”

Still, she emphasised that the United States remains an attractive destination for global business, and states must therefore work harder internationally to counterbalance the uncertainty coming from Washington.

Immigration Restrictions Seen as “Really Bad Policy”

Meyer was equally critical of the tightening of U.S. immigration rules, especially those affecting high-skilled workers on visas such as the H-1B. For Delaware, where scientific research, technology, and healthcare industries depend heavily on global expertise, these restrictions create significant challenges.

“I think this administration’s more restrictive approach to immigration is really bad policy,” he said. “It makes it much harder for talented young people to come and study at our universities or work at our companies.”

He added that Delaware has been doing all it can to help skilled workers and employers navigate the barriers. Sharing a personal anecdote, Meyer described how he intervened for an Indian chef whose visa renewal was denied — in part because of the misfortune of being named Saddam Hussein — despite prior lawful work experience in the state. “We fought for him and he is here now,” he said. “In Delaware, if talent wants to be here, we want you here. We will fight tooth and nail to make sure you get here.”

Addressing Anti-Immigration Sentiment

The governor also spoke candidly about the rise of anti-immigrant rhetoric in the United States, including instances targeting the Indian-American community. Without naming specific political figures, he criticised national leaders who use “disparaging and un-American language” to inspire fear or resentment toward immigrants.

He reaffirmed that Delaware rejects such attitudes. “We don’t care where you come from, what language you speak, or what papers you have,” he said. “If you are here to be safe, to work hard, to build a community, to start a business and hire people, we will protect you.”

Meyer also referenced the immigrant histories of both his and Patibanda-Sanchez’s families, describing immigration as central to America’s identity, prosperity, and moral foundation.

A Message Ahead of the India Visit

As Delaware prepares to expand economic partnerships with India, both Meyer and Patibanda-Sanchez made clear that the state is determined to cultivate openness, predictability, and cooperation — even as federal policies move toward greater restriction.

Their mission to India, they said, will promote Delaware as a welcoming hub for Indian investment and a state committed to global talent, international business, and long-term bilateral relationships. Against the backdrop of shifting U.S. trade policies, their message is unambiguous: Delaware intends to chart a different, more collaborative course.