Subhechcha Ganguly 
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick urged India on Friday to reduce its “high tariffs” as part of efforts to establish a “grand” trade deal with Washington. His comments came on the heels of US President Donald Trump’s assertion that India had agreed to cut its tariffs significantly, claiming that he had exposed India’s “massive” tariffs on American imports. Trump emphasized that India’s tariffs were so high it was nearly impossible to sell American goods in the country. This marks the third time in as many days that Trump has commented on the issue, as India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is currently in Washington for trade discussions.
Lutnick echoed Trump’s sentiments, noting that India’s tariffs on US products are among the highest globally, urging India to reconsider its position. He also stressed the importance of India opening up its agricultural trade to imports and finding a smarter approach when negotiating with the US, which he described as India’s “most important trading partner.” Meanwhile, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs highlighted that the ongoing discussions on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) aim to boost trade between the two nations by reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers and enhancing market access and supply chain integration.
