Delhi Talks Heat Up as Lutnick Meets Goyal After Tariff Ruling
Delhi Talks Heat Up as Lutnick Meets Goyal After Tariff Ruling
In Delhi, US and Indian officials push to turn a tariff setback into progress on a first-phase trade pact, with Lutnick and Goyal steering high-level talks.
In Delhi, senior US and Indian trade officials gathered to push ahead on the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement, days after the US Supreme Court struck down President Trump's emergency tariffs. Piyush Goyal, India's Commerce Minister, hosted US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Ambassador Sergio Gor for discussions aimed at finalising the legal text for the initial phase. Goyal called the talks a positive step toward expanding bilateral economic cooperation.
The discussions come at a critical juncture as both sides seek to translate a framework into a binding document. The court ruling complicates Washington's tariff strategy, which had included a 25% reciprocal tariff on India in August 2025, and an extra 25% on certain Russian crude purchases, bringing some duties to 50%. Still, officials stressed their resolve to push ahead with the interim deal.
Officials noted that the framework could set the stage for a legally enforceable first phase, with reports suggesting tariff reductions to around 18% as part of the initial agreement. The participants highlighted fruitful conversations and a shared urgency to unlock greater market access, reduce bureaucratic hurdles, and bolster manufacturing and investment.
The meeting underscores the broader strategic balance in US-India trade relations, as New Delhi pursues diversified supply chains and Washington seeks a rules-based economic partnership. Goyal posted about the talks on social media, praising the productive exchange with Lutnick and Gor and signaling continued engagement.
