India–US Trade Deal Finalised, Tariffs on Indian Goods Reduced. India and the United States have finalised a new trade agreement under which tariffs on Indian goods will be reduced to 18 percent, the US government announced. Earlier, Indian products were facing duties as high as 50 percent after a series of tariff hikes announced by former US President Donald Trump. The reduction comes after several rounds of negotiations between the two countries. Trump said he spoke with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and agreed to finalise the trade deal, which he described as a step toward strengthening India–US relations. Under the agreement, India has agreed to buy goods worth USD 500 billion from the US, including energy, technology, agricultural products, coal, and other items. Trump also said India would reduce purchases of Russian crude oil and increase imports from the US. Prime Minister Modi welcomed the tariff cut and thanked Trump, saying closer cooperation between the two large democracies would benefit both nations and support global peace and stability. However, the deal has drawn criticism from opposition parties in India, who say some terms may hurt Indian farmers and local industries. They questioned claims about ending oil imports from Russia and increasing agricultural imports from the US. In response, the central government said it would present a detailed statement in Parliament and hold discussions to clarify concerns, insisting that India’s interests have been protected in the agreement.
