US Trade

New evidence from economists at Morgan Stanley sheds light on how US firms that are exposed to tariffs are changing their behaviour

Trump's order targets customs loopholes by cracking down on shell companies, inadequate customs bonds, and shipment-routing schemes used to conceal the true origin of imported goods

The proposed 12.5 per cent tariff on India by the US Trade Representative (USTR) under Section 301 investigations goes beyond the scope of the provision, and New Delhi should challenge the ambit of the probe, think tank GTRI said on Wednesday. The 12.5 per cent tariff exceeds the USA's WTO commitment. The US Trade Representative has proposed to impose 12.5 per cent additional duties on 54 countries, including India, for failing to prohibit the import of goods produced with forced labour. The action follows investigations launched against 60 countries over what the USTR described as their failure to impose and effectively enforce bans on imports made with forced labour. "The current investigation exceeds the scope of Section 301, which deals with market-access barriers faced by the US firms in the country being investigated and not what it imports and from where", the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. It added that the investigation is not based on allegations that Indi

Trump had imposed the 10% duties in February under Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974, which had never previously been invoked

India is among six countries, including China and Russia, on the priority watch list in a special report released by the US Trade Representative on Thursday that deals with adequacy and effectiveness of trading partners' protection and enforcement of intellectual property (IP) rights. The US Special 301 report 2026 lists Vietnam as the Priority Foreign Country (PFC), marking the first time in 13 years that any country is listed in that particular category. "The PFC identification is reserved by statute for countries with the most egregious IP-related acts, policies, and practices with the greatest adverse impact on relevant US products," the USTR said. It said that Vietnam is not entering into good faith negotiations or making significant progress in negotiations to provide adequate and effective IP rights protection. The six countries on the priority watch list include Chile, China, India, Indonesia, Russia and Venezuela. Placement of a trading partner on the Priority Watch List

Trump added that the decision was driven by longstanding trade ties between the two regions, particularly in barrel production and the whiskey supply chain

The US government has revived Section 301 investigations into India over excess capacity and forced labour concerns, raising risks of tariffs and tighter compliance for key export sectors

But the February Supreme Court reversal of his decision has put future gains in doubt

US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Washington would work with like-minded partners outside the WTO if the moratorium is not restored

The European Parliament voted Thursday to approve a trade deal between Washington and Brussels but with amendments added to protect European interests should the United States fail to hold up its end of the bargain. The deal was negotiated last July in Turnberry, Scotland, by US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. It set a 15 per cent tariff on most goods in an effort to stave off far higher import duties on both sides that might have sent shock waves through economies around the globe. New language now says that the deal can be suspended if Washington "undermined the objectives of the deal, discriminated against EU economic operators, threatened member states' territorial integrity, foreign and defence policies, or engaged in economic coercion." That clause was forged because of the tensions over Greenland, said Bernd Lange, a German lawmaker and head of the EU's parliamentary trade committee. Trump drew widespread condemnation across th

The unusually rapid pace of these 76 inquiries raises concerns over due process, with expectations that responses may align closely with the Trump administration's preferred outcomes

The US Trade Representative has initiated Section 301 investigations into 60 trading partners, including India, to examine whether they failed to curb imports of goods produced with forced labour

Trump administration has cautioned foreign trading partners and the business community for months that it would use alternative tools to address its trade concerns if IEEPA tariffs were struck down

The US said India will lower tariffs on a "vast array" of American industrial and agricultural goods, such as "fruits, vegetables", to zero per cent under the trade deal announced by President Donald Trump. The US described this as a "big win" while noting that India will continue to control "certain key areas" that enjoy protection. "This is it. The time has come, and now we have the deal. We'll finish papering it, but we know the specifics. We know the details. It's a very exciting opportunity," United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said Tuesday in an interview to CNBC Squawk Box. Greer said that the US will continue to maintain some level of tariff against India - 18 per cent - "because we have this giant trade deficit with them, but they've also agreed to reduce their tariffs for us on a variety of agricultural products, manufactured goods, chemicals, medical devices, etc. It's an exciting opportunity for both countries," he said. Giving details of the deal, Greer .

As the Supreme Court reviews Trump's tariffs, the US is expanding Section 232 duties that could affect $621 billion in Asian goods, raising risks for allies and rivals alike

SHW Partners, led by Trump's former adviser Jason Miller, helped Indian diplomats set up meetings with US officials

The oil companies are seeking to include US LPG prices and the much higher shipping costs from the US

The US has already sanctioned four top Russian producers and, along with other Group of Seven nations, hundreds of tankers involved in transporting Moscow's oil

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday said talks with the US on the proposed bilateral trade agreement are progressing. He said that the US team is in New Delhi for the negotiations. "Talks are continuously progressing with them. We are moving forward towards a bilateral trade agreement," Goyal told reporters here at the Pravasi Rajasthani Divas. He indicated that he may meet the visiting US official team. A delegation led by Deputy US Trade Representative (USTR) Rick Switzer is in the national capital for two-day trade talks with his Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal. The US' chief negotiator for the pact, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, will hold discussions with India's chief negotiator and Joint Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Darpan Jain. The visit is crucial as India and the US are working to finalise the first tranche of the pact. This is the US officials' second trip since the imposition of a 25 per ce

The Indian rupee has slipped to an all-time low against the US dollar, pressured by foreign investor exits and global trade tensions. A new poll suggests a mild recovery could be ahead