India Denies Trump’s Tariff Cut Claim, Says No Commitments Made

New Delhi clarifies that no formal agreement has been reached with the US regarding tariff reductions, despite Donald Trump’s claims.

March 11, 2025: NEW DELHI: India has refuted US President Donald Trump’s claim that New Delhi has agreed to cut tariffs significantly on American imports, stating that no commitments have been made.

On Tuesday, officials from the Commerce Ministry told a Parliamentary panel that India has only sought time until September to address the ongoing tariff concerns raised by the US, The Times of India reported.

Also Read: Ontario Hits Back: Slaps 25% Power Tariff on U.S. Amid Trade War with Trump

🔍 Government’s Clarification

Appearing before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal stated that India and the US are working on a long-term bilateral trade agreement, prioritizing mutual cooperation over immediate tariff cuts.

Also Read: Trump Hints at Higher Tariffs on Mexico and Canada, Says US Will “Get It Back”

“We have made no commitments to the US on this issue,” a senior official confirmed.

Trump had previously alleged that India imposes “massive tariffs” on American goods, calling them unfair trade practices, and vowed to introduce reciprocal tariffs on multiple countries, including India, from next month.

Also Read: Congress Questions Modi Govt Over Alleged Tariff Deal with U.S.

📢 What Did Trump Say?

Speaking at a rally last Friday, Donald Trump declared:

“India charges us massive tariffs. Massive. You can’t even sell anything in India. They have agreed, by the way; they want to cut their tariffs way down now because somebody is finally exposing them.”

📉 US Market Reaction & Trade Tensions

The escalating trade tensions have triggered concerns on Wall Street, with US stock markets witnessing sharp declines on Monday amid fears of an economic slowdown.

Adding to the pressure, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick criticized India’s trade policies, labeling its tariffs one of the highest globally and urging New Delhi to reconsider.

Speaking at the India Today Conclave, Lutnick stated:

“India needs to open up agricultural trade and be smarter while dealing with its most important trading partner.”

With the US-India trade relationship under renewed scrutiny, all eyes are on the next diplomatic moves between Washington and New Delhi.

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🏷 Tags:
India-US Trade, Donald Trump Tariffs, India Trade Policy, US-India Relations, Trump Trade War, Indian Economy, Global Trade Tensions, Reciprocal Tariffs, US Stock Market Crash, Commerce Ministry India