New Delhi, March 25: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has expressed optimism ahead of the visit by a U.S. delegation, which will hold talks on the proposed bilateral agreement regarding India-US trade relations.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Tharoor expressed hope that the discussions would be constructive and that Indian trade would not be significantly impacted.
"The Americans have sent a delegation, and we expect them to spend four days engaging with the Commerce Ministry here. The issue is that U.S. President Donald Trump has taken a strong stance, stating that a reciprocal tariff will be imposed starting April 2," Tharoor said.
He further explained that because India applies tariffs on several American exports, the concept of "reciprocal" tariffs would likely affect Indian exports to the U.S. as well. "I'm hoping that through these talks, a sensible resolution will be reached," he added.
Tharoor also highlighted the trade surplus India maintains with the U.S., stating, "India has a $45 billion trade surplus with America. While some reduction is expected, we don’t want it to negatively affect our exports, economy, or trade balance. I'm optimistic that the discussions will be constructive and lead to a practical outcome."
In response to new developments brought forward by the Trump administration, Tharoor emphasized that the world must remain vigilant, respond appropriately, and negotiate alternative solutions when necessary.
The U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Brendan Lynch, along with a delegation of U.S. officials, is visiting India from March 25 to March 29 for discussions with Indian counterparts as part of ongoing trade talks. A U.S. Embassy spokesperson said, "We value our ongoing engagement with the Government of India on trade and investment matters and look forward to continuing these discussions in a constructive, equitable, and forward-looking manner."
