The Indian government has responded to the new tariffs imposed by US President Donald Trump, calling them a “mixed bag” and not a major setback. A senior official from the Commerce Ministry said that India is carefully examining the situation and planning a response.
On April 2, President Trump announced a new tariff policy, imposing a 10% duty on all Indian imports from April 5. An additional 17% duty will be added from April 10, bringing the total to 27%. Trump justified the move by saying that India already imposes high tariffs of up to 52% on American products.
In its official statement, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said that it is engaging with industry representatives and exporters to analyze the impact of these tariffs. The ministry also mentioned that India is looking for opportunities that may arise due to these policy changes.
Discussions are ongoing between India and the US to finalize a Bilateral Trade Agreement. This agreement will cover areas like investment, supply chain integration, and technology transfer. Officials hope that negotiations could help reduce or modify the tariffs.
Meanwhile, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) held a high-level meeting to assess the impact of Trump’s order. Officials from the Commerce Ministry, NITI Aayog, and other departments participated in the meeting to discuss India’s next steps.
India remains hopeful that trade talks will lead to a fair resolution and protect the interests of Indian exporters and industries.
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