By Swastika Sahu
India and the United States will hold expedited trade talks in New Delhi on Tuesday after White
House trade adviser Peter Navarro said India is “coming to the table,” weeks after Washington
imposed tariffs on Indian exports.
The discussions occurred weeks after US President Donald Trump applied punitive tariffs on
Indian exports, causing the nation’s shipments to reach a nine-month low in August. Rajesh
Agarwal, special secretary in the commerce ministry and India’s lead negotiator, acknowledged
the development. “He informed reporters at a trade data release event that India and the United
States will ‘accelerate’ trade discussions, but he refrained from providing additional specifics.”
A week ago, White House trade advisor Peter Navarro stated that India “must comply” at some
stage regarding trade discussions with the US or it “won’t result positively” for Delhi. Navarro,
during an interview with the ‘Real America’s Voice’ program, stated that the Indian government
is offended by him and labelled India as the ‘Maharajah’ of tariffs.
He also stated, “However, it is completely true.” They impose the highest tariffs of any major
nation globally on the United States. “We need to address that,” he mentioned that prior to
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, India had never purchased oil from Moscow, “except for a few
insignificant amounts.” “And then they enter a phase of making profits, with Russian refiners
operating on Indian territory and exploiting the situation,” resulting in American taxpayers
needing to allocate additional funds for the conflict,” he stated.
Navarro’s comments arise amid a period when Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have
emphasised the significance of the India-US relationship. Addressing India’s acquisition of
Russian crude oil, Navarro stated, “Indian refiners partnered with the Russian refiners right after
the invasion, and they’re profiting greatly.” They take that money to purchase Russian oil,
which the Russians use to acquire weapons, and we as taxpayers end up spending more on this,
for the defence of Ukraine. “And so how is that possible?” he continues.
The Indian side still has significant concerns regarding the US request to allow American
products into its domestic agricultural and dairy sectors. PM Modi stated he would safeguard the
Interests of farmers.
Last month, Washington increased tariffs on Indian exports to 50 per cent, referencing India’s
unwillingness to reduce imports of Russian crude. Trump recognised India’s proposal to reduce
tariffs on US products to zero but deemed it “too late.”