New Delhi, April 15, 2025 – India and the US launched discussions Tuesday for a bilateral trade agreement, seizing a 90-day tariff pause from President Trump’s 10% reciprocal duties—sparing India a 26% hike until July 9. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, meeting virtually with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, aims for a $500 billion trade pact by 2030, eyeing steel, pharma, and agri markets, per Times of India.
The talks follow Trump’s April 7 rollback, isolating China at 145% tariffs while India rides the truce (The Indian Express). Bilateral trade hit $120 billion in 2024—India’s $36.8 billion surplus triggered Trump’s initial jab (The Economic Times). “We’re pushing for balance—US wants rice, we want tech,” a commerce official told The Hindu. Sensex jumped 1% Monday, banking on Goyal’s pitch—$24 billion in IT exports are at stake (Business Standard).
Challenges loom—US steel duties (25%) and India’s retaliatory tariffs on almonds linger (Reuters). X hums—“India’s got leverage!”—but skeptics warn: “Trump’s unpredictable” (post:1). India’s 2024 exports—$77.5 billion—need a deal to grow (IBEF). Goyal’s February US visit set the stage; Tai’s team eyes labor and green norms (NDTV). With 60 nations in Trump’s tariff net, India’s dodging chaos—China’s Boeing halt shows the heat (Times of India).
For India, it’s a high-stakes chess move—can Goyal lock in gains, or face Trump’s next swing?
