India-US trade deal to boost 'Made in
India' initiative: Nirmala Sitharaman
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday
welcomed the reduction in United States' tariffs on Indian goods, describing
the development as a major boost for the 'Made in India' initiative. Taking to
social media platform X, the finance minister said that Indian products would
now face a reduced reciprocal tariff of 18 per cent.
"Good news for #MadeInIndia products. They will
now face reduced tariff of 18%. Thanking the leadership of PM @narendramodi and
@POTUS for this development. People of our two large democracies stand to
benefit," she said in a post on X.
The breakthrough follows a high-level telephonic
conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald
Trump.
In a reciprocal move, India has committed to
reducing trade barriers for American goods and significantly increasing imports
across sectors, including energy, technology, and agriculture.
Following the trade agreement announcement, Prime
Minister Narendra Modi said he was delighted that "Made in India products
will now have a reduced tariff of 18 per cent".
"Wonderful to speak with my dear friend
President Trump today. Delighted that Made in India products will now have a
reduced tariff of 18 per cent. Big thanks to President Trump on behalf of the
1.4 billion people of India for this wonderful announcement," Modi said.
He said when two large economies and the world's
largest democracies work together, it benefits the people and "unlocks
immense opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation".
"President Trump's leadership is vital for
global peace, stability, and prosperity. India fully supports his efforts for
peace," Modi said on 'X'.
President Trump said India will move forward to
reduce "tariffs and non tariff barriers" against the US to zero,
adding New Delhi would buy American goods, including energy, worth more than
$500 billion.
"Out of friendship and respect for Prime
Minister Modi and, as per his request, effective immediately, we agreed to a
trade deal between the United States and India, whereby the United States will
charge a reduced reciprocal tariff, lowering it from 25 per cent to 18 per
cent," the US president said on social media.
India will "likewise move forward to reduce
their tariffs and non tariff barriers against the United States, to zero",
he said.
Trump said Modi also committed to buy American goods
at a much higher level, in addition to over $500 billion dollars of US energy,
technology, agricultural, coal, and many other products.
www.thehindubusinessline.com,
dt. 04-02-2026