Priyanka Tiwari
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India is working to finalize a partial bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the United States before the 90-day suspension of increased tariffs declared by President Donald Trump ends, according to government sources on April 10. The initiative is part of a larger plan to protect India’s domestic industries while improving international trade ties.
Over the next three months, New Delhi plans to implement a three-tier strategy that focuses on strategic partnerships, tariff adjustments, and domestic market defense.
Focus Area 1: Advancing the India-US Trade Pact
The proposed trade agreement with the US will likely include essential and non-sensitive goods. The Indian government may lower import duties on selected American products. In return, the US is expected to grant India permanent tariff concessions on key exports.
Multiple discussions have already taken place among key Indian ministries and US authorities. The Prime Minister’s Office, Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Ministry of External Affairs, and Ministry of Finance are actively working to finalize this preliminary pact.
Focus Area 2: Accelerating EU and UK Trade Agreements
India is also fast-tracking its free trade agreements (FTAs) with the European Union and the United Kingdom. This effort is aimed at diversifying trade dependencies and minimizing risks from single-country partnerships. Both sets of talks have progressed into advanced negotiation phases.
Focus Area 3: Preventing Dumping from China
To protect local manufacturers, India plans to strengthen its measures against unfair trade practices like dumping, particularly from China. This involves rigorous application of the Quality Control Order (QCO) to restrict low-quality imports. An inter-ministerial group has been formed to ensure rapid enforcement and policy coordination.
