India Agrees to Lower Import Duties, According to Recent White House Statement
President Donald Trump said India has agreed to cut its tariffs on US goods. Trump told reporters that India had set “huge tariffs” that blocked American products from their market.
“India will cut their tariffs way down now because someone finally called them out,” Trump stated during his White House briefing. This is part of Trump’s broader trade strategy.
This news comes while Indian officials led by Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal meet with US teams for trade talks. India’s government hasn’t shared details about these ongoing talks yet.
Trump’s comments follow US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick’s call for a “big” trade deal between both nations. Lutnick wants this deal to include farm products and asks India to stop buying defense items from Russia.
“We need to do something major that links India and the US broadly, not item by item,” Lutnick said at a recent event while referring back to Trump’s policies.
US Wants India to Open Farm Markets
Lutnick directly asked India to open its farm sector, saying it “can’t stay closed” to trade. India guards its farm market due to local concerns, even though the US wants to sell nuts, fruits, and chicken to Indian buyers.
“India must open its farm market,” Lutnick said, while noting that full opening might not work. He suggested using quotas or limits as a middle ground.
The Commerce Secretary stressed the benefits of a deal with “the world’s biggest consumer market.” He asked for a full plan where India lowers tariffs on US goods in return for “great chances,” which aligns with Trump’s goals.
When asked about US-India ties, Lutnick noted concerns about India buying military gear from Russia and being part of BRICS, which includes China and Russia. He said these issues complicate Trump’s strategies in global markets.
On China, Lutnick said current US tariffs target opioid making, with more tariff talks set for early April. Donald Trump’s policies on tariffs and trade continue to impact global markets.
