Tariffs

A year of tariffs: Donald Trump's trade policy impoverishes US workers

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

Trump's trade chief says new tariffs can fit within existing deals

The EU and US agreed to a free-trade deal in July that would see the bloc erase levies on US industrial goods in exchange for a 15 per cent tariff ceiling on its exports

Engaged with US on Section 301 probe over forced labour concerns: Govt

India is engaged with the US on the Section 301 investigations over concerns related to forced labour and excess industrial capacity, the government said on Wednesday. The country is also "parallelly" engaged with the US for finalisation of an interim trade agreement, a framework for which was announced through a joint statement on February 7. The Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) launched two separate Section 301 investigations on March 11 and 12, 2026, covering 60 economies over concerns related to forced labour and excess industrial capacity. The USTR on June 2 issued its findings in the forced labour investigation and proposed additional tariffs on imports from 60 economies. The proposal includes a 10 per cent tariff on imports from Canada, Ecuador, the European Union, Indonesia, Mexico, and Pakistan, and a 12.5 per cent tariff on imports from 54 other economies, including India and China. Pakistan and Indonesia are India's competitors in the trade front.

India must challenge proposed 12.5% US tariff under Section 301 probe: GTRI

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

Approx $20.6 billion of tariff refunds on way to importers: US govt

However, the govt's latest declaration to the US Court of International Trade also included an admission of a significant error in its last report to federal judge overseeing the tariff refund process

Real challenge beyond tariffs: Technology and compliance capability

New global trade reports highlight that technological capability and regulatory compliance - not just tariffs - are becoming the key drivers of trade competitiveness

Donald Trump threatens China with 50% tariffs if it sends arms to Iran

The US president said his threat to impose 50% tariffs on goods from countries that sold weapons to Iran was aimed at China. Trump told Fox News' "Sunday Morning Futures" that has heard reports of China giving anti-aircraft "shoulder missiles" to Iran. He played down the possibility of China supplying weapons to Iran, but said their goods would be taxed if they did. "I doubt they would do that, because I have a relationship, and I think they wouldn't do that, but maybe they did a little bit at the beginning," Trump said. "But if we catch them doing that, they get a 50% tariff.

Is the world going to tariff Big Tech as WTO shifts digital trade rules?

Internet has been tariff-free for decades; if that changes, it's because the world has decided it can't allow the US to run its digital empire forever

Duty concessions to SEZ for DTA clearances likely to find few takers

Modest duty cuts and complex conditions may limit SEZ units' appetite for concessional DTA clearances despite the government's intent to boost capacity use

US employment growth rebounded in March; unemployment rate falls to 4.3%

The labor market has been buffeted by uncertainty, starting with President Donald Trump's aggressive import tariffs

Unified pipeline tariff unchanged at ₹54/mmBtu for CNG, PNG users

PNGRB retains Zone 1 tariff for CNG and domestic PNG users while revising Zone 2 rates; earlier reduced unified tariff zones from three to two

WTO debates five-year extension of global ban on ecommerce tariffs

India has been resisting a long-term ecommerce duty moratorium citing concerns over revenue loss

India signals shift on e-commerce tariff moratorium, resists US push

Business leaders say an extension is critical to guarantee predictability, fearing duties could be introduced if the agreement lapses

Odisha keeps power tariff unchanged for fifth year despite rising costs

Regulator retains electricity rates for FY27 despite rising procurement costs, offering relief to consumers while introducing incentives for digital payments and efficiency

Jaishankar calls for removal of non-tariff barriers in Russia trade

India and Russia need to address issues such as non-tariff barriers and regulatory impediments to increase the two-way annual trade to USD 100 billion by 2030, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Monday while reaffirming New Delhi's steadfast commitment to strengthening the long-standing partnership with Moscow. "In today's evolving geo-political dynamics, our engagement continues to deepen," he said in a virtual address at a conference titled "India and Russia: Towards a new bilateral agenda". Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov lauded India's "independent foreign policy" and said that Russia looks forward to welcoming Prime Minister Narendra Modi for a visit this year. In his remarks, Jaishankar said the evolving multipolar order requires greater cooperation between India and Russia, including through BRICS, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO), G20 and the UN. India is looking forward to closely working with Russia to address shared challenges in a "balanced

US pushes for permanent ban on ecommerce tariffs despite opposition

The moratorium has divided nations for nearly three decades as economies including Brazil, India and South Africa argued they wanted to preserve domestic policy options rather than rubber-stamp it

Aluminium Association of India seek RoDTEP relief to stay competitive

The Aluminium Association of India (AAI), has urged the government to exempt aluminium products from the recent RoDTEP rate cut as it would help Indian exporters remain competitive in the international market. AAI, the apex body representing the top aluminium producers within the country, in its representation to the Directorate General of Foreign Trade (DGFT), has requested the government to remove aluminium exports from the recent 50 per cent RoDTEP cut, just like the government has already done for agricultural products. The export support scheme, Remission of Duties and Taxes on Exported Products (RoDTEP), launched in 2021, provides for a refund of taxes, duties and levies that are incurred by exporters in the process of manufacturing and distribution of goods, and are not being reimbursed under any other mechanism at the Centre, state or local level. It also made a plea to the government to fix RoDTEP rates for 2026-27 based on the actual taxes exporters bear, so that aluminium

Even as Trump humiliates allies, Indian govt must adopt humility at home

Mr Trump has ushered in the age of humiliation. His method is to push around America's friends rudely and publicly. He knows none of them can afford to fight back

Telecom industry to need additional ARPU of ₹35-40 to get 15% ROCE: Ind-Ra

Ind-Ra says telcos need a Rs 35-40 ARPU increase to achieve 15% ROCE, indicating another round of tariff hikes even as profitability improves and capex intensity falls across the sector

US imposes new 10% global tariff starting Tues after Supreme Court verdict

It remains unclear whether and how companies will be refunded for tariff payments made under the regime annulled by the Supreme Court