INDIA DENIES COMMITTING TO US TARIFF CUTS AMID TRADE TENSIONS

An Emirati Magazine publication – Released on March 11, 2025 | www.emiratimagazine.com

India has dismissed claims that it agreed to lower import duties on US goods, contradicting President Donald Trump's recent statement that New Delhi had pledged to cut their tariffs way down.

Trump, early into his second term, has taken an aggressive stance on global trade, imposing tariffs on multiple countries, including India. He has frequently criticized India's trade policies, calling its tariffs massive and restrictive.

However, a report in TOI revealed that India informed a parliamentary panel it had made no such commitments. Instead, India has requested time until September to discuss the matter further.

Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal clarified that both nations are working on a mutually beneficial trade agreement, prioritizing long-term cooperation over immediate tariff reductions.

Despite trade tensions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi maintains strong ties with Trump, who recently described their relationship as a special bond during Modi’s White House visit.