US President Says Trade Deal With India Is "Coming Soon", But Not In a Rush
New York, May 17 — US President Donald Trump has once again asserted that India is prepared to eliminate 100 per cent tariffs on American goods, signaling that a long-awaited trade agreement between the two countries could be nearing completion.Speaking to Fox News, Trump reiterated his frequent claim, describing India as “one of the highest tariff nations in the world.”
Despite this assertion, Trump noted he is "in no rush" to finalize the deal, adding, “That'll come soon. Look, everybody wants to make a deal with us. South Korea wants to make a deal, but I'm not going to make deals with everybody.”
The US President further emphasized the growing interest from various nations, saying, “I’ve got 150 countries that want to make deals.”
India Stresses Need for Balanced Agreement
In response to Trump’s remarks, India’s External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, speaking in New Delhi on Thursday, underscored that any trade deal must serve the interests of both nations.Commerce Minister in Washington for Talks
India's Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is currently in Washington to evaluate progress on the proposed agreement. He is expected to meet with key US trade officials including Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.Key Sectors in Focus
As part of the negotiations, India is aiming for duty concessions on several labour-intensive and export-driven sectors:| India's Focus Sectors | US Demands in Trade Deal |
|---|---|
| Textiles | Industrial goods |
| Gems and Jewellery | Automobiles (especially EVs) |
| Leather Goods | Wines |
| Garments | Petrochemical products |
| Plastics | Dairy and agricultural products |
| Chemicals | Apples, tree nuts |
| Shrimp and Oil Seeds | |
| Grapes and Bananas |
While a concrete timeline remains elusive, both sides appear committed to moving closer to a mutually agreeable framework.