India Delays U.S. Trade Talks After Tariff Uncertainty

India has postponed sending a trade delegation to Washington due to uncertainty following a U.S. Supreme Court decision rejecting tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump, according to a government source. The visit was intended to advance negotiations on an interim trade agreement, but officials from both countries agreed to delay the talks as they assess the implications of the ruling and subsequent tariff announcements.

The delegation was scheduled to discuss reducing U.S. tariffs on Indian goods, which were earlier set at 25% due to India’s Russian oil purchases. Under the proposed framework, tariffs could have been lowered to 18%, while India agreed to purchase $500 billion worth of U.S. goods over five years, including energy supplies, aircraft, technology products, and precious metals. However, the uncertainty caused by the court’s decision and Trump’s move to impose temporary tariffs on imports disrupted the timeline.

India’s opposition, led by the Indian National Congress, urged the government to pause the deal and renegotiate terms, raising concerns over the timing of earlier commitments. Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said the government is reviewing the situation, and no new date has been set for the delegation’s visit. The interim agreement had been expected to take effect as early as April, pending resolution of outstanding issues.

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