Us, India Push For Tariff-reducing Trade Pact; Disagreements Over Dairy, Agriculture Remain Unresolved: Report

US and Indian waste and acquisition negotiators continued talks connected Wednesday to scope a tariff-reducing statement earlier President Donald Trump's July 9 deadline. However, disagreements complete US dairy and agriculture issues stay unresolved, Reuters reported, citing sources acquainted pinch nan discussions.

The negotiations travel Trump's announcement of a woody pinch Vietnam that lowers US tariffs connected galore Vietnamese equipment to 20% from a antecedently threatened 46%. Trump besides stated that US products could participate Vietnam duty-free, though specifications were limited.

Trump had threatened a 26% work connected Indian equipment arsenic portion of his April 2 "Liberation Day" reciprocal tariffs, which were temporarily reduced to 10% to let clip for negotiations. Sources from India's commerce ministry stated that nan Indian waste and acquisition delegation remains successful Washington, having arrived a week agone for talks that commenced past Thursday and Friday.

The delegation whitethorn widen their enactment to finalise a deal, but will not discuss connected cardinal cultivation and dairy concerns. It is unacceptable to trim tariffs connected genetically modified corn, soybeans, rice, and wheat grown successful nan US, nan sources added.

One root noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi's authorities does not want to look to beryllium surrendering farmers' interests, a important governmental group successful India.

India is, however, unfastened to lowering tariffs connected walnuts, cranberries, different fruits, aesculapian devices, autos, and power products, nan root said. A US root acquainted pinch nan talks indicated that nan sides are adjacent to an statement and person been instructed to hole for a imaginable announcement.

The US root described nan efforts arsenic aggravated and constructive, highlighting nan strategical arsenic good arsenic economical value of closing a deal. Trump echoed this connected Tuesday, saying he could scope a woody pinch India that would trim tariffs for some countries and thief American companies compete successful India's marketplace of 1.4 cardinal consumers. 

Meanwhile, Trump expressed doubts astir a imaginable woody pinch Japan, suggesting he mightiness enforce tariffs of 30% aliases 35% connected Japanese goods, higher than nan 24% work announced connected April 2. Japan is seeking reductions connected abstracted 25% automotive and alloy tariffs imposed by Trump.

(With Reuters inputs)

Published on: Jul 3, 2025 7:36 AM IST