India should accelerate discussions for the proposed bilateral trade agreement with the US as the deal could help secure preferential market access, improve investor protections, and encourage technology partnerships between the two countries, experts said on Monday. They also said that the pact is critical for India to address long-standing non-tariff barriers in sectors like chemicals, telecom equipment, and medical devices, which were explicitly flagged in the US tariff statement. Mutual Recognition Agreements (MRAs) for standards and testing protocols could be a strategic step forward in reducing regulatory friction and improving market access in these sensitive sectors, they added. Even though the new US tariffs might put short-term pressure on India's key export sectors, the broader strategic landscape offers significant long-term advantages, Rudra Kumar Pandey, Partner, Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co, said. He said that India can leverage its differential tariff exposure,
Unlike China, Canada and the EU, India is actively seeking to appease the Trump administration and is open to cutting tariffs on over half of US imports worth $23 billion
New Delhi has promised to step up energy purchases from the United States to $25 billion in the near future from $15 billion last year
India and the US are planning to negotiate a trade agreement and both countries will focus on increasing market access, reducing import duty and non-tariff barriers, and enhancing supply chain integration, Parliament was informed on Tuesday. In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said that as on date, reciprocal tariffs have not been imposed by the US on India. "Both countries plan to negotiate a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement. Both countries would focus on increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and enhancing supply chain integration," he said. The US issued Memorandum on Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs on February 13, wherein the Secretary of Commerce and United States Trade Representative are to take necessary actions to investigate harm to America from any non-reciprocal trade arrangements adopted by trading partners and provide a report with detailed proposed remedies fo
India should enhance its foreign trade under bilateral trade agreements rather than multilateral deals and protect its national interest, especially that of the farmers and small entreprenuers, while negotiating with the US, the Swadeshi Jagran Manch (SJM) said on Monday. The SJM's national council passed a resolution in this regard at its meeting in Chhattisgarh, the RSS affiliate said in a statement. The two-day meeting held in Raipur, which deliberated on a host of issues, including strengthening India's economy amid a changing geopolitical scenario and the Donald Trump administration's policy of reciprocal tariffs, concluded on Monday. "After taking over as US president, Donald Trump has launched a frontal attack on the global free trade system by announcing his intent to impose higher tariffs (on reciprocal basis) on imports from many countries around the world," the resolution said. The move is intended to bring back manufacturing to the US so that the issue of unemployment
Modi US Visit: Market experts believe the current stock market crash largely prices-in any negative news on Trump's tariffs on India
Modi is preparing additional tariff cuts ahead of his meeting with Trump that could boost American exports to India and avoid a potential trade war, government officials said
During the first Trump administration, the Indo-Pacific region gained significant attention as a key strategic area in US foreign policy
Richard Verma, the highest-ranking Indian-American official in the State Department, has expressed optimism about the future of US-India ties and emphasised the need to base the relationship on shared values rather than mere transactional dealings. Verma, Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources, said he is not worried about the differences between the US and India as they make the relationship more dynamic. "What I don't want this to become, though, is a transactional relationship where we're just looking to sell things or you're looking to have us buy things, Verma told PTI in an interview on Friday, as he prepares to leave office. "That is not a deep, consequential relationship built on values. I think staying true to those principles is really...important, said Verma, who previously served as America's Ambassador to India, making him the first Indian American in that position. President Joe Biden will cede power to President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, marking .
Discussions held in New Delhi highlighted areas of collaboration, including advancements in 5G and 6G networks, artificial intelligence, cross-border data flows, and promotion of Open RAN
India on Friday welcomed the US lifting restrictions on three Indian nuclear entities and said the move will open up new avenues for collaboration in the civil-nuclear field. The US on Wednesday removed restrictions on Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC), Indira Gandhi Atomic Research Centre (IGCAR) and the Indian Rare Earths (IRE). The decision came over a week after NSA Jake Sullivan announced that Washington was finalising steps to "remove" hurdles for civil nuclear partnership between Indian and American firms. "It is a welcome step," External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a regular media briefing. "These (BARC, IGCAR and IRE) were in the entity list of the US for several years now. With this action by the US government, it will lead to greater collaboration between India and the US in the field of nuclear energy and also in the field of critical minerals," he said. Jaiswal indicated that efforts will be put in to address issues relating to nuclear ...
Indian investor Indusbridge Ventures and U.S.-based FedTech, which established the programme in September 2024, selected seven Indian companies and talks are underway about specific projects
India and US now more than ever need to work with their partners to build a trusted and resilient innovation base, the White House said following the meeting between its National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan and his Indian counterpart Ajit K Doval. Our two nations have taken significant steps forward together to integrate our technology and defense supply chains in recognition that, now more than ever, we need to work with our partners to build a trusted and resilient innovation base, the White House said in a fact sheet. Sullivan and Doval in 2022 were instrumental in launching the path-breaking US-India initiative on Critical and -Emerging Technology (iCET) at the direction of President Joe Biden and Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Sullivan travelled to India this week to meet Doval. He also had a meeting with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and called on Prime Minister Narendra Modi. During their capstone meeting, Sullivan and Doval underscored the vital importance of our
Bipartisan support and cooperation on security and defense is the most important dimension of India-US partnership, a top Indian American defense leader said amidst presidential transition. In an interview with PTI, Dr Vivek Lall, Chief Executive of General Atomics Global Corporation, said One of the most important strategic partnerships of the 21st century is that of India and the United States. One of the most important dimensions of this alliance is bipartisan support and cooperation on security and defense, he said. In Jun 2016, the world's largest unmanned deal was advocated by the then president Donald Trump and it was concluded by his successor Joe Biden this year. It is a reflection of the bipartisan support that this relationship's defense and security aspects enjoys, he said. As the capitals of large, vibrant democracies, Washington DC and New Delhi are natural partners and share many of the same broad goals for peace, stability and security throughout the globe, Lall sa
For India in particular, the charges against Adani only reinforces its strategy to keep a foot in both major camps, staying friendly with the US while also keeping up good ties with Russia, China
About ties with India, Hankey said the number of Indian students going to the US has gone up since 2008
Asserting that the relationship between India and the US is built on a strong foundation, the White House has expressed confidence that it can navigate the ongoing crisis surrounding bribery charges against Indian billionaire Gautam Adani. At her daily news conference, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre told reporters on Thursday that the administration is aware of the charges against Adani. Adani has been charged by US prosecutors for allegedly being part of a scheme to pay over USD 250 million (about Rs 2,100 crore) bribe to Indian officials in exchange for favourable terms for solar power contracts. Obviously we're aware of these allegations, and I would have to refer you to the SEC (Securities and Exchange Commission) and DOJ (Department of Justice) about the specifics of those allegations against the Adani Group, she said. What I will say is on the US and India relationship, we believe that it stands on an extremely strong foundation anchored in ties between our ..
Kwatra met Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Congressmen Andy Barr and Rick McCormick as well as Indian-origin Congressmen Ami Bera, Ro Khanna, Shri Thanedar and Raja Krishnamoorthi
Navtej Sarna further stated that Trump's presidency marked China as the primary strategic competitor for the US, while Trump also fostered a strong personal rapport with PM Modi
US Presidential election 2024: Indian leader PM Modi, EAM Jaishankar, Chief Economic Adviser Nageswaran, and more expect US-India bond to remain strong regardless of US election results