India has firmly pushed back against U.S. President Donald Trump’s claim that it agreed to eliminate all tariffs on American imports, calling the statement premature and inaccurate. Speaking to local news agencies, India’s Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that trade negotiations with the U.S. are still in progress and no such commitment has been made.
“Nothing is decided until everything is,” Jaishankar said, reiterating that any trade agreement must be balanced and serve the interests of both countries. “That would be our expectation from the trade deal. Until that is done, any judgment on it would be premature,” he added.
Trump made the claim while speaking at a business event in Doha, where he also announced new trade deals with Qatar. Referring to Apple’s plans to shift iPhone production to India, Trump said he had discouraged CEO Tim Cook from manufacturing in the country, describing India as “one of the highest tariff nations in the world.” He further asserted that India had “agreed to charge us literally no tariffs” as part of an upcoming deal.
The Indian government’s response indicates that while discussions are advancing—particularly during the current 90-day pause on Trump’s imposed 26 percent tariffs—there is no finalized agreement. The tariff suspension, set to expire on July 9, has accelerated pressure on both sides to reach a preliminary understanding.
India has already reduced import duties on select American products like bourbon whiskey and motorcycles as goodwill gestures. However, major concessions in politically sensitive sectors such as agriculture and autos remain unlikely.
Trade experts suggest a “zero-for-zero” framework could be possible, where both nations agree to eliminate tariffs across most categories while retaining protection for select industries. Ajay Srivastava, a Delhi-based trade analyst, emphasized that such a deal must ensure strict reciprocity.
While India has historically been cautious on trade liberalization, recent moves signal a shift. The country has concluded a trade pact with the UK that lowers barriers on whisky and automobiles and signed a $100 billion agreement with the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) last year. Negotiations with the European Union for a broader free trade agreement are also underway and gaining momentum.
Despite Trump’s assertions, India maintains that its commitment to fair trade will not come at the cost of its domestic priorities. The push for a deal with Washington continues, but as Jaishankar underscored, the final shape of the agreement is far from settled.
Discover more from Weekly Voice
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
