Union Commerce, Industry and Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu speaks out against trade wars amid growing trade confrontation between US and China; says India should move WTO against protectionist tendencies of countries hurting its interests, asserts the interests of Air India’s employees would be protected after disinvestment.

In the wake of the escalating trade confrontation between the US and China, DD News spoke to Union Commerce, Industry and Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu. The Minister spoke out against protectionist tendencies of countries and highlighted the benefits that expansion of global trade has brought to the world. He said a trade war would only hurt economic growth and employment.

At a time when the US has imposed heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminium, a decision that is impacting India, among several other countries, Suresh Prabhu said that countries being impacted by protectionism should move the WTO for dispute redressal and India too should move the world trade body for relief if the need for that arises.

Speaking on efforts to increase the share of exports in India’s GDP, Suresh Prabhu said that India is working on a strategy to diversify its exports by tapping into new products and markets.

With the govt having decided to divest 76% of its stake in Air India, the Civil Aviation Minister said that interests of Air India’s employees should be protected.