Page 9 - Trade Talks

India says bilateral trade talks with US seeing 'positive progress'

India and US officials report positive progress in their trade talks, focusing on a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement; roadmap is in place to conclude the deal in the near future

Indian refiners purchase more US crude ahead of proposed trade talks in May

India's trade deficit widened more than expected in March, as oil imports jumped more than 60 per cent from a month earlier

India likely to seek parity with US on tech access in bilateral trade talks

India is likely to ask the US to ease export controls and grant it access to critical technologies on par with key American allies like Australia, the UK, and Japan under the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), sources said. They added that India may seek these easing for sectors like telecom equipment, biotechnology, AI (artificial intelligence), pharmaceuticals, quantum computing and semiconductors. The country is also seeking duty concessions for labour-intensive sectors like textiles, gems and jewellery, leather goods, garments, plastics, chemicals, shrimp, oil seeds, chemicals, grapes and bananas in the proposed pact with America. On the other hand, the US wants duty concessions in sectors like certain industrial goods, automobiles (electric vehicles particularly), wines, petrochemical products, dairy, agriculture items such as apples, and tree nuts, they said. As part of the proposed BTA, one of the sources said, India may request the US to place it on par with other ke

India, Netherlands discuss ways to strengthen trade, investments ties

India and European nation Netherlands have discussed ways to boost trade and investments ties during the visit of Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal to Hague. The visit assumes significance as India's exports to Netherlands are recording healthy growth despite global economic uncertainties. "Commerce Secretary Mr. Sunil Barthwal & Ambassador @ktuhinv met DG Foreign Economic Relations Mr. Michiel Sweers in The Hague to discuss strengthening bilateral trade and economic ties. Discussions focused on enhancing collaboration through the joint trade and investment committee (JTIC) and advancing strategic economic cooperation," the department of commerce said in a post on X. In 2024-25, India's exports to the Netherlands rose by 1.75 per cent to USD 22.76 billion as against USD 22.36 billion in 2023-24. The imports during the period stood at over USD 5 billion. During this visit, the commerce ministry's Joint Secretary Saket Kumar also met senior officials in Hague to discuss advancing ...

Expect India to strike first trade pact: US Treasury Secy Scott Bessent

Trump said India may reduce its high tariffs as part of the bilateral deal

Vietnam's exporters scramble to fulfil order surge amid 90-day tariff pause

Businesses that had seen demand dry up just weeks ago are now overwhelmed with urgent shipment orders from US buyers

India, US agree on terms of reference for first phase of trade deal

The official stated that the there was a possibility of a "win-win shape and form" to the deal in the next 90 days

China says open to dialogue with US, but 'threats not the right way'

The Chinese spokesperson said the Asian nation is hopeful of working with the US to resolve differences through dialogue

JPMorgan CEO Dimon warns of recession & defaults, urges quick trade talks

JPMorgan's economists raised the risk of a US and global recession this year to 60 per cent from 40 per cent after Trump unveiled the trade barriers

Experts call for faster India-US trade talks to unlock market potential

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,

India unlikely to impose counter-tariffs as US trade talks progress: Report

In the days after Trump's tariff announcement that has shaken global markets to their core, India joined nations like Taiwan and Indonesia in ruling out counter tariffs

Trump speaks with India, Vietnam, Israel on trade deals ahead of deadline

While US President Donald Trump had initially framed tariffs as non-negotiable, he later hinted at possible compromises

India, EU to step up trade talks after US imposes reciprocal tariffs

The geopolitical uncertainties are forcing European nations to scout for new markets, including India, considering it is one of the fastest-growing large economies

India, Uganda hold 3rd Joint Trade Committee meeting to boost ties

Both sides acknowledged that the current trade volume does not reflect the full potential of their partnership and committed to taking focused measures

India must tread carefully in US trade talks amid legislative risks: GTRI

India must be cautious while negotiating the proposed bilateral trade agreement with the US, as the absence of Fast Track Trade Authority in America makes any pact vulnerable to Congressional changes, economic think tank GTRI said on Tuesday. It also said that the certification process allows the US to effectively re-negotiate the trade agreement after it is signed, demanding domestic legal changes, regulatory reforms, and policy shifts that could undermine India's sovereignty. "As negotiations continue, the path forward demands not only diplomatic skill but also vigilance against legal asymmetries embedded in America's trade playbook," Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) Founder Ajay Srivastava said. Without the Fast Track Authority in place and with the precedent of post-agreement certification allowing the US to impose additional demands, the risk of asymmetric obligations is real, he added. The US Fast Track Trade Authority (also known as Trade Promotion Authority) is a ...

Customs rule changes may increase compliance costs for importers: GTRI

The amendments in the customs rules to tighten checks on goods imported under free trade agreements (FTAs) could make it harder for businesses to do imports at concessional duties and may increase compliance cost, economic think tank GTRI said on Sunday. However, it said the move would curb the misuse of FTAs as India has seen repeated instances where goods originating from non-FTA countries, such as China, were rerouted through FTA member countries like Vietnam or Singapore to exploit preferential duty benefits. On March 18, the Ministry of Finance issued a notification, introducing amendments to the Customs (Administration of Rules of Origin under Trade Agreements) Rules, 2020 (CAROTAR). The amendment replaces the term, "Certificate of Origin" (CoO), with a broader term, "Proof of Origin", across various rules and forms under the CAROTAR framework, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. "This change comes in conflict with the several existing FTAs with ASEAN etc where

India has agreed to cut tariffs, says Trump amid bilateral trade talks

India and the US are holding discussions on a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) aimed at reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers

Will keep India's interests on top in US trade talks: FM Sitharaman

Says govt seized of potential reciprocal tariff problems

Xi Jinping prepares to unveil China's stimulus plan as trade war heats up

Thousands of delegates including ministry chiefs and provincial leaders will gather Wednesday in Beijing for the parliamentary conclave

Donald Trump heads toward tariff barrage on Canada, Mexico, and China

The long-promised tariffs scheduled to take effect Tuesday would easily be among the most sweeping of the Trump era