India, April 10 -- On April 2, 2025, the United States (US) imposed reciprocal American tariffs on India. History seems to be repeating itself. Two centuries ago, Washington did the same-only back then it wasn't every good on the line, but muslin and calico.

In the earliest days of the American republic, manufacturers lacked the means to create high-quality fabric, and they certainly did not have silk, jute, and other raw materials or finished goods. They thus craved commodities such as Indian textiles. The trade ships that arrived in Boston, Philadelphia, and New York were replete with treasures: inexpensive cotton cloth, but also luxury silks, shawls made of camel hair, and woolen wraps. Delicate muslin from Dhaka-the same fabric Empre...