The BRICS TimesA high-level Indian team led by Darpan Jain starts three-day talks in the US to rework the trade deal and protect Indian exporters from new global tariffs.
India and the United States are launching vital trade talks in Washington this Monday, April 20. The meetings will run until April 22. Both sides aim to finalize the initial phase of a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
Negotiation Team and Schedule
A 12-member Indian group is visiting Washington for these talks. Chief negotiator Darpan Jain leads the delegation. This is the first face-to-face meeting since October 2025. The team includes experts from commerce, customs, and external affairs.
Impact of New US Tariff Rules
The US trade landscape changed after a recent Supreme Court ruling. This decision stopped reciprocal tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act. Consequently, Washington applied a flat 10% tariff on all nations. This temporary measure lasts for 150 days until July 23.
Erosion of India’s Trade Advantage
The uniform 10% tariff has forced a renegotiation. Previously, India secured a deal to drop tariffs from 50% to 18%. This included waiving a 25% penalty on Russian oil purchases. Now, India’s specific advantage over other nations has faded.
Redrafting the Trade Agreement
India is now reworking its commitments. Officials told PTI that the deal needs a “recalibration.” They want to ensure Indian businesses do not lose out. The main goal is to bring back the cost benefit for Indian goods in the US.
Reviewing Previous Concessions
Under the February plan, India offered many benefits to the US. These included lower duties on industrial and farm products like nuts and wine. India also agreed to remove several non-tariff barriers. These points are now back on the table for discussion.
Assessing Import Targets
India previously planned to buy $500 billion in US goods over five years. This covered energy, planes, and semiconductors. Experts believe these figures will be reassessed during the redrafting process. Both nations are looking at fresh numbers.
Addressing USTR Investigations
Two Section 301 probes by the US Trade Representative remain a hurdle. These target India’s manufacturing capacity. India has officially called these probes “unjustified.” The delegation is pushing for the US to drop these investigations immediately.
Current Trade Statistics
The talks happen as trade patterns shift. China recently became India’s top trading partner for 2025-26. While exports to the US grew slightly to $87.3 billion, imports rose by nearly 16%. This narrowed India’s trade surplus significantly.
Akshay Didwaniya
Pratik Agrawal
Mayur Mohta