"Hopeful of trade pact", Govt says in response to Trump's tariff

Responding to the tariff announcement by Donald Trump administration on India, the government said it is hopeful of a trade pact with US
Alt="Studying the trump tariff and hopeful of the trade pact, said govt"
Studying the trump tariff and hopeful of the trade pact, said govtEnergyWatch.in
Published on

New Delhi: The government on Wednesday said it is studying the implications of US President Donald Trump's announcement to impose 25 per cent tariffs on Indian goods, along with a penalty from August 1 and it is still hopeful of concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement.

The government, an official statement said, will take all necessary steps to secure the country's national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements, including the latest with the UK.

PSU Watch is now on Whatsapp Channels. Click here to join

Trump announced the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff on all goods coming from India, plus an unspecified penalty for buying military equipment and crude oil from Russia.

"The Government has taken note of a statement by the US President on bilateral trade. The Government is studying its implications," the statement said.

It added that India and the US have been engaged in negotiations on concluding a fair, balanced and mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement over the last few months.

Alt="Studying the trump tariff and hopeful of the trade pact, said govt"
Friends? Trump announces 25 percent plus tariff on India from Aug 1

"We remain committed to that objective," the statement said.

"The government attaches the utmost importance to protecting and promoting the welfare of farmers, entrepreneurs, and MSMEs. The Government will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements, including the latest comprehensive economic and trade agreement with the UK," it added.

The two countries are negotiating a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) from March with an aim to more than double the bilateral trade in goods and services to USD 500 billion by 2030 from the current USD 191 billion. So far five rounds of talks have been completed.

For the sixth round of talks, the US team is visiting India from August 25.

They are aiming to conclude the first phase of the agreement by fall (September-October) this year. The two sides are also looking at an interim trade deal before the BTA.

(PSU Watch– India's Business News centre that places the spotlight on PSUs, Bureaucracy, Defence and Public Policy is now on Google News. Click here to follow. Also, join PSU Watch Channel in your Telegram. You may also follow us on Twitter here and stay updated.)

logo
PSU Watch
psuwatch.com