Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing tariff reductions ahead of his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump, aiming to boost American exports and prevent a potential trade standoff. The move comes as Washington signals reciprocal tariffs on multiple nations, with India under scrutiny.
Modi's visit to the United States on Wednesday and Thursday comes amid growing trade friction. Trump has previously criticized India, calling it a "very big abuser" and pushing for increased American exports, particularly in defense and security equipment.
Indian officials said New Delhi is considering tariff cuts across at least a dozen sectors, including electronics, medical devices, surgical equipment, and chemicals. Reductions in duties on dish antennas and wood pulp—products primarily sourced from the U.S.—are also being explored as part of a potential mini trade deal.
A senior official described the effort as an attempt to avoid a trade war, referencing the ongoing U.S.-China tensions, where Trump imposed 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, leading Beijing to retaliate with duties on U.S. energy exports.
India’s Trade Adjustments
New Delhi has already lowered its average import tariff from 13% to 11% in its latest budget, including reductions on high-end motorcycles and luxury cars. The government is also reviewing surcharges on more than 30 items, including solar cells and automobiles.
Despite past criticisms of India’s trade practices, Trump has maintained a cordial relationship with Modi, calling him "fantastic".
Trade and Diplomatic Relations
The United States remains India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade exceeding $118 billion in 2023/24. India posted a $32 billion surplus, a key issue in Washington’s trade agenda.
While the upcoming talks will center on trade, defense, and technology cooperation, discussions have been overshadowed by recent deportations of Indian nationals from the U.S. Officials say the meeting will provide political direction, with detailed trade negotiations expected to follow.
As the U.S. increasingly views India as a strategic counterbalance to China, the strength of economic ties will be closely watched in both Washington and New Delhi.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi ...
The 25th World Petroleum Council (WPC) Energy Congress began in Riyadh on Sunday (11 October), running from 11 to 15 October under the theme &ldquo...
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to...
The explosion at King Khalid International Airport in Riyadh on Saturday afternoon killed at least 12 people and injured a further 309, according to Saudi Arabia’s Civil Aviation Authority. The airport remains closed until further notice.
One person was killed and nearly a dozen hurt in a new attack Riyadh's international airport on Sunday, Saudi authorities reported, a day after a strike claimed by Yemen's Houthis that killed 13 people and wounded more than 300.
Yemen's Houthis renewed warning to airlines, airport workers, and travellers against using Saudi airports, saying the warning should be taken seriously and that the kingdom “bore responsibility for failed interceptions”, a day after an attack on Riyadh's international airport that killed 12 people.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukraine is ready to stop attacks on Russian oil refineries if Moscow also halts strikes on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Sunday.
The Kremlin on Monday rejected a 60-day ceasefire idea proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to allow his country to hold presidential elections, saying it wanted an overall peace deal instead.
Here's your AnewZ Daily Brief for 12 October 2026 with the top five natural disasters happening around the world.
The Houthi movement has escalated their attacks on Saudi Arabia, targeting the airport in Riyadh and other cities, killing more than a dozen people.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday that Ukraine is ready to respect the energy ceasefire announced by U.S. President Donald Trump, but only if Russia does the same, saying Moscow has already violated the agreement.
China has announced sanctions against Belize’s foreign minister and Paraguay’s communications minister over their countries’ diplomatic ties with Taiwan. The move comes as Beijing continues to pressure the few remaining nations that maintain formal diplomatic relations with Taipei.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment