U.S.-India Deal Hailed as Mutual Win, but Questions About Impact Remain

Inside U.S. Trade quoted Covington lawyer Arun Venkataraman in a detailed analysis of the U.S.-India trade deal announced by President Trump, which reduces U.S. tariffs on Indian goods from 50 percent to 18 percent in exchange for Indian concessions including pledges to lower tariffs on U.S. products and increase American energy imports.

Arun, a former USTR director for India, highlighted the uncertainty created by the absence of key details. "We will need to see details on the deal from both governments to answer those critical questions, such as to what extent the U.S. achieved meaningful agricultural market access, especially given the politically sensitive nature of agriculture for Indian trade negotiators," he told Inside U.S. Trade. He added that "stakeholders will also be keen to understand what it means for India to move forward to eliminate tariffs and non-tariff barriers, and to buy more quantities of U.S. products, and under what timeframe for both."