<p>New Delhi: US President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on imposition of higher tariffs has come as a significant relief and gives negotiators the time to push for the early conclusion of the India-US bilateral trade deal, industry representatives said.</p><p>India is the first country to start negotiation for a bilateral trade agreement with the United States after Trump took charge early this year.</p><p>“The US is claiming that around 75 countries have approached them for bilateral trade deals. India has the advantage over others because we are probably the first one to start the talk,” Ajay Sahai, Director General, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), told DH.</p><p>He underlined that while concluding a full-fledged trade deal is not feasible in 90 days, India should push for a partial deal, especially some agreement on tariffs. “They (Trump administrations) are hitting very hard on China. The US will need someone to balance. India is in a good position,” said Sahai, adding the US would likely go soft on India if tariff war escalates with China.</p>.Trump's tariff pause leaves CEOs puzzled about what happens in 90 days.<p>Barely a week after announcement of the imposition of “reciprocal tariffs” on around 60 countries, including India, the Trump administration on Wednesday announced a 90-day pause. However, it has singled out China with imposition of 125% tariffs.</p><p>While the tariff pause has given some relief, uncertainties continue to hit India’s shipments to the US. “There is so much uncertainty. I don’t see a customer placing a new order unless he is sure about the actual tariffs,” Pankaj Chadha, Chairman, EEPC India, told DH.</p><p>He said several sectors like steel, aluminium, auto and auto parts have already been hit due to the US tariffs. The Trump administration has imposed higher tariffs on steel, steel products and aluminium effective from March 12, while higher tariffs on auto and auto components became applicable from March 26. Though the US has put a pause on 26% sectoral tariffs, the 10% baseline tariff remains in place.</p><p>“It has actually confused the whole issue. You don’t know where you stand. One way or the other let there be clarity that this is the duty. Today there is no clarity on the duty,” Chadha said. </p><p>During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington in mid February, India and the US agreed to sign a Bilateral Trade Agreement by the end of 2025. The two countries have also set an ambitious target to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.</p>
<p>New Delhi: US President Donald Trump's 90-day pause on imposition of higher tariffs has come as a significant relief and gives negotiators the time to push for the early conclusion of the India-US bilateral trade deal, industry representatives said.</p><p>India is the first country to start negotiation for a bilateral trade agreement with the United States after Trump took charge early this year.</p><p>“The US is claiming that around 75 countries have approached them for bilateral trade deals. India has the advantage over others because we are probably the first one to start the talk,” Ajay Sahai, Director General, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), told DH.</p><p>He underlined that while concluding a full-fledged trade deal is not feasible in 90 days, India should push for a partial deal, especially some agreement on tariffs. “They (Trump administrations) are hitting very hard on China. The US will need someone to balance. India is in a good position,” said Sahai, adding the US would likely go soft on India if tariff war escalates with China.</p>.Trump's tariff pause leaves CEOs puzzled about what happens in 90 days.<p>Barely a week after announcement of the imposition of “reciprocal tariffs” on around 60 countries, including India, the Trump administration on Wednesday announced a 90-day pause. However, it has singled out China with imposition of 125% tariffs.</p><p>While the tariff pause has given some relief, uncertainties continue to hit India’s shipments to the US. “There is so much uncertainty. I don’t see a customer placing a new order unless he is sure about the actual tariffs,” Pankaj Chadha, Chairman, EEPC India, told DH.</p><p>He said several sectors like steel, aluminium, auto and auto parts have already been hit due to the US tariffs. The Trump administration has imposed higher tariffs on steel, steel products and aluminium effective from March 12, while higher tariffs on auto and auto components became applicable from March 26. Though the US has put a pause on 26% sectoral tariffs, the 10% baseline tariff remains in place.</p><p>“It has actually confused the whole issue. You don’t know where you stand. One way or the other let there be clarity that this is the duty. Today there is no clarity on the duty,” Chadha said. </p><p>During Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington in mid February, India and the US agreed to sign a Bilateral Trade Agreement by the end of 2025. The two countries have also set an ambitious target to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.</p>