India & US Trade Relations: Ongoing Engagement.webp

New Delhi, March 10 The government is studying all tariff-related developments in the US to assess their implications and remains engaged with the United States, Parliament was informed on Tuesday.

In a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said that on February 7, the US imposed an additional 25 per cent tariff on certain Indian exports due to India's purchase of Russian oil.

"Following the US Supreme Court judgment dated February 20, 2026, which invalidated reciprocal tariffs, these tariffs are no longer in effect.

"The US government has issued executive orders imposing 10 per cent tariffs on certain products for all countries. The government is studying all subsequent developments to assess their implications and remains engaged with the US government," he said.

In a separate reply, he said that India has offered limited and carefully calibrated tariff concessions on select agricultural products while safeguarding domestic interests through quotas, phased concessions, and partial duty reductions under the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement.

Regarding products such as apples, walnuts, and soybean oil, where India imports in significant quantities due to domestic demand exceeding production, the concessions are limited and quota-based to ensure that imports help in diversifying sourcing, Prasada said.

"The quotas are well within current global imports so that supply gaps are met without adversely affecting Indian farmers," he added, noting that in the backdrop of growing demand, animal feed-related products such as DDGS and Non-GM Red Sorghum have been considered in limited quantities and with partial tariff concessions so that there is no adverse impact on domestic feed crops.

Similarly, cotton has been offered in a calibrated quota-based concession, considering India's existing trade pattern of both importing and exporting cotton and cotton products to meet quality requirements, the minister said.

India and the United States announced a trade deal on February 2, 2026.

In another reply, the minister said that the government is aware of the US-Bangladesh Agreement on Reciprocal Trade signed on February 9, 2026.

"India's cotton trade with Bangladesh may continue to benefit, considering the geographical proximity, lower freight costs, shorter transit times, established supply chains, and long-standing industry linkages, which provide resilience to the bilateral trade relationship," he said.

During April–January 2025–26, India's exports to the US stood at USD 20.86 billion in electronics (including smartphones), USD 5.98 billion in engineering goods, USD 0.96 billion in solar equipment, USD 4.83 billion in metals and equipment, USD 2.03 billion in auto components, USD 7.25 billion in pharma, USD 7.88 billion in textiles, and USD 4.19 billion in gems and jewellery.
 
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