India-US Tariff Talks Set for Dec 10-12 in New Delhi
India-US Tariff Talks Set for Dec 10-12 in New Delhi
Three-day talks in New Delhi aim to advance tariffs within a Bilateral Trade Agreement as the US presses for market access concessions.
A three-day session in New Delhi from December 10-12 is set to take forward discussions on the tariffs tranche of a Bilateral Trade Agreement between India and the United States. Although not billed as an official round of negotiations, both sides are signaling a push to make strong progress on tariff-related issues ahead of a fuller negotiating phase. The U.S. delegation is expected to be led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer, with India represented by Darpan Jain, joint secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. Talks will focus on the first tranche of tariff measures and how to address market access and sectoral benefits that have long been on the table. The backdrop is steep tariffs: the United States has imposed a total 50% tariff on Indian imports, of which 25% are reciprocal and another 25% are penalties tied to India’s purchases of Russian oil. There is also anticipation that a more senior U.S. official could join the delegation, signaling heightened attention on the negotiations. India has conveyed revised concessions on broader market access issues, and officials have expressed cautious optimism that the first tranche could be concluded soon. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal have underscored the importance of progress, aiming to set the stage for a broader deal that could help lift bilateral trade toward the $500 billion benchmark by 2030. While a breakthrough in three days remains uncertain, the December talks are viewed as a critical step in moving the dialogue forward and clarifying the path for more formal discussions.
Cover image source: U.S. team led by deputy USTR Switzer to visit India from December 10-12 to discuss tariffs 🔗
