India Press Live
India does things differently. While the world was dealing with the aftermath of US President Donald Trump’s reciprocal tariffs announcement, some countries like China and Canada retaliated with their own tariffs. But India took a unique approach. It decided not to retaliate to the US tariffs, nor reduce the tariffs it already imposes on America. Instead, India plans to absorb, adjust, and rework the trading dynamic to minimize the impact of Trump’s tariffs on Indian exporters. India and the US are also speeding up trade talks to create a mutually beneficial trade deal.
JAISHANKAR-RUBIO PHONE CALL
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently had a phone call. They both agreed that concluding the bilateral trade agreement early would benefit both countries. They also discussed the situation in the Indo-Pacific region and the Indian subcontinent.
After the call, Dr Jaishankar mentioned, “Good to speak with Secretary Marco Rubio today. Exchanged perspectives on various regions and agreed on the importance of an early conclusion of the Bilateral Trade Agreement.”
Good to speak with @SecRubio today. Exchanged perspectives on various regions and agreed on the importance of an early conclusion of the Bilateral Trade Agreement. Look forward to remaining in touch.…
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) April 7, 2025
According to Reuters, India is in a better position compared to other Asian countries like China, Vietnam, and Indonesia when it comes to dealing with US reciprocal tariffs. India and the US are aiming to finalize a trade deal by autumn 2025 to resolve their differences on tariffs.
INDIA’S RECENT MOVES
India has indicated that since the US has imposed reciprocal tariffs, negotiations will now be on equal footing. India has also taken steps to appease Trump, like lowering tariffs on certain products and dropping taxes on digital services affecting US tech giants.
The Commerce Ministry is assessing the immediate impact of Trump’s tariffs and gathering feedback from exporters, especially those in vulnerable sectors like diamond merchants. They are also exploring potential opportunities arising from the tariff situation.
ROBUST INDIA-US TIES
India and the US share a strong global strategic partnership driven by democratic values, strategic interests, and people-to-people engagement. Both countries aim to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. They also have significant investments in each other’s economies.
(Inputs from Reuters)
