New Delhi: India will seek relief from any tariffs stemming from US trade investigations when negotiators from the two nations meet this week to finalize an interim deal, an official familiar with the matter said.
A US trade team led by chief negotiator Brendan Lynch will hold talks with counterparts in New Delhi from Tuesday to advance the trade deal the two nations agreed in February.
The Indian official, who asked not to be identified because the discussions are private, said the deal could be agreed if India gets a fair, equitable and balanced pact.
The two nations reached an agreement on a trade pact earlier this year before the US Supreme Court struck down President Donald Trump’s sweeping reciprocal tariffs. However, soon after the office of the US Trade Representative launched investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act into countries including India over concerns of forced labor and excess production capacity. If found guilty, penalty tariffs may apply.
New Delhi has denied the allegations, asking Washington to terminate the investigations and address the issue within the framework of ongoing trade negotiations and not through unilateral measures.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer could visit India once the broad contours of the trade agreement are finalized, the Indian official said.
The US Embassy in New Delhi said Monday the two sides are seeking a trade agreement “that will be enduring, beneficial, and sustainable for both countries.”
(Updates with statement from US embassy.)
This report is auto generated from the Bloomberg news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content.
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