India is engaged in trade talks with the United States, an Indian government source with knowledge of the discussions said yesterday, a day after US President Donald Trump signed an order imposing a 25 per cent tariff on New Delhi’s exports.
A US delegation is expected to visit New Delhi later this month, the government source said.
“We remain focused on the substantive agenda that our two countries have committed to and are confident that the relationship will continue to move forward,” India’s foreign ministry said in a statement yesterday.
Trade talks between Washington and New Delhi have been bogged down by issues including access to India’s highly protected agriculture and dairy sector.
Nearly $40 billion worth of exports from the South Asian nation – the world’s fifth largest economy – could be impacted by Trump’s tariff salvo, according to the source.
Without a deal, the rate singles out India for harsher trade conditions than its major peers, potentially damaging the economy of a strategic US partner in Asia that is seen as a counterbalance to Chinese influence.
The source said there is no question of compromising on India’s agriculture and dairy sectors, especially not allowing import of dairy products due to religiously based opposition to animal feed in these products.
On Wednesday, Trump also threatened additional penalties on India for its commercial dealings with Russia and membership in the BRICS group of major emerging and developing economies. There is no clarity yet on the penalty. Trump accuses BRICS of pursuing “anti-American policies”.
Differences between the US and India cannot be resolved overnight to arrive at a trade deal, a senior US official said on Thursday.
The US has a trade deficit of $46bn with India.
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