Amid US' 50% tariffs on Indian goods, Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw said that external factors have no role to play in the recently announced GST reforms. "The preparation for GST reforms had started about 1.5 years ago...even before...US elections," Vaishnaw added. "This initiative was taken in line with PM [Narendra] Modi’s clear goal of reform, perform, and transform," he stated.