Bengaluru: Strike by unions may affect normal life tomorrow and day after
Bengaluru, Jan 7: Normal life is likely to be affected in the city and several parts of Karnataka on Tuesday following the two-day nation-wide general strike called by central trade unions against the alleged 'repressive' policies for workers by the Narendra Modi government.
With state transport buses likely to stay off the roads, commuters, office goers who use the service may face the brunt.
However, the metro service in Bengaluru, as also auto and taxi service, are likely to function as usual.
Hotels, malls and film theaters are also likely to function as usual, with their unions extending "moral" support to the strike.
Bank services are likely to be disrupted.
District administrations have been given the authority to declare a holiday for schools and colleges depending on the situation there, officials said.
Some universities have deferred the examinations.
In the wake of the strike tomorrow and the day after, representatives of trade unions met Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and briefed him about the reasons for the strike.
"The strike will be successful in the state...buses won't be there as they will observe strike, we have given notice.
Banks will also not be there. Almost all activities will not be there," AITUC leader Anantha Subbarao told reporters after meeting the Chief Minister.
Stating that it will be a "total strike", he said it is being observed nationally against the policies of the Modi government.
The trade unions have decided to hold a protest march from the Town Hall in the city to Freedom Park on Tuesday, and on Wednesday from the Town Hall to Raj Bhavan.
Meanwhile, describing the two-day Bharat Bandh as "illogical, irrational and politically-motivated" move called by frustrated elements, the Karnataka BJP has called on the people to reject the bandh call and carry on with their normal daily activities.
In a statement here, BJP general secretary N Ravi Kumar said not one issue - on the basis of which the anti-BJP parties have given call for bandh - is convincing and logical.
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India proposes preferential trade agreement with Mexico to deal with high tariffs
New Delhi (PTI): India has proposed a preferential trade agreement (PTA) with Mexico to help domestic exporters deal with the steep tariffs announced by the South American country, a top government official said on Monday.
Mexico has decided to impose steep import tariffs - ranging from about 5 per cent to as high as 50 per cent on a wide range of goods (about 1,463 tariff lines) from countries that do not have free trade agreements with Mexico, including India, China, South Korea, Thailand and Indonesia.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said that India has engaged with the country on the issue.
"Technical level talks are on...The only fast way forward is to try to get a preferential trade agreement (PTA) because an FTA (free trade agreement) will take a lot of time. So we are trying to see what can be a good way forward," he told reporters here.
While in an FTA two trading partners either significantly reduce or eliminate import duties on maximum number of goods traded between them, in a PTA, duties are cut or removed on a limited number of products.
Trading partners of Mexico cannot file a compliant against the decision on imposing high tariffs as they are WTO (World Trade Organisation) compatible.
The duties are within their bound rates, he said, adding that their primary target was not India.
"We have proposed a PTA because its a WTO-compatible way forward... we can do a PTA and try to get concessions that are required for Indian supply chains and similarly offer them concessions where they have export interests in India," Agrawal said.
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Citing support for local production and correction of trade imbalances, Mexico has approved an increase in MFN (most favoured nation) import tariffs (5-50 per cent) with effect from January 1, 2026 on 1,455 tariff lines (or product categories) within the WTO framework, targeting non-FTA partners.
Preliminary estimates suggest that this affects India's around USD 2 billion exports to Mexico particularly -- automobile, two-wheelers, auto parts, textiles, iron and steel, plastics, leather and footwear.
The measure is also aimed at curbing Chinese imports.
India-Mexico merchandise trade totalled USD 8.74 billion in 2024, with exports USD 5.73 billion, imports USD 3.01 billion, and a trade surplus of USD 2.72 billion.
The government has been continuously and comprehensively assessing Mexico's tariff revisions since the issue emerged, engaging stakeholders, safeguarding the interests of Indian exporters, and pursuing constructive dialogue to ensure a stable trade environment benefiting businesses and consumers in both countries.
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Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) Director General Ajay Sahai has said that Mexico's decision is a matter of concern, particularly for sectors like automobiles and auto components, machinery, electrical and electronics, organic chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and plastics.
"Such steep duties will erode our competitiveness and risk, disrupting supply chains that have taken years to develop," Sahai said, adding that this development also underlines the little urgency for India and Mexico to fast-track a comprehensive trade agreement.
Domestic auto component manufacturers will face enhanced cost pressures with Mexico hiking duties on Indian imports, according to industry body ACMA.
