Priyanka Tiwari
Share
According to a statement made by the US Secretary of Commerce, Howard Lutnick, it's possible to strike a deal with India that balances tariffs as well as difficult topics for America like the South Asian country's purchase of weapons from Russia and their participation in a BRICS initiative to replace the American dollar.
“The United States is keen to negotiate a trade agreement with India in an all-encompassing manner, and I think it can be done,” Lutnick said online during an event conducted by India Today Group in New Delhi on Friday. “Let’s start lowering India’s tariff policy towards America, and America will extend an invitation to India to have really an extraordinary opportunity and relationship with us.”
These remarks were made after President Donald Trump signaled that India is likely to be one of the countries that will face imposition of mutual charges, which Lutnick has insisted will commence on April 2. Trump lambasted India’s tariffs on Thursday, saying the upcoming mirror image charges would be devastating for the Indian economy.
Piyush Goyal, Commerce Minister from India, is currently in the United States on a trip that is close to a week-long where he is scheduled to meet officials from the Trump administration to discuss trade policy, with hopes that the ongoing negotiations would prevent the country from the impact of the mutual charges.
"India has bought a lot of arms from Russia and my understanding is that this has to stop," he said. He also said that the country’s restrictions on trade With the dollar as well as the high tariffs on Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry “We want to feel the love that we deeply regard India.” said at the event India Today Conclave 2025.
“We hope that can be made to happen and that trade will be clearly more equitable,” Lutnick said suggesting that addressing those matters could lead to an agreement before autumn.
In the recent weeks, India has lower duties on imports of high-end motorcycles and bourbon, also accepting to prober market access to the US industrial goods. Additionally the India has agreed to scale up the purchase of gas, oil, and weapons from the US to reduce the adverse trade balance the countries have.
Lutnick also suggested on Friday that India liberalize its agriculture segment, which is highly politicized within the nation, arguing that some quotas or restrictions could be set to facilitate imports from the US. “When you have the most important trading partner on the other side of the table, you can be smarter,” he stated.
Read More: Dr. Sujatha and Her Son Struggle After Husband's Death in Kashmir Terror Incident
