PM Modi’s two-day U.S. visit will start from February 12, 2025. File
| Photo Credit: Reuters
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is preparing additional tariff cuts ahead of a meeting this week with U.S. President Donald Trump that could boost American exports to India and avoid a potential trade war, government officials said.
PM Modi’s two-day U.S. visit from Wednesday (February 12, 2025) comes as Mr. Trump plans to announce reciprocal tariffs on many countries, including tariffs of 25% on all steel and aluminium imports by largest trading partner the United States.
Mr. Trump had previously called India a “very big abuser” on trade and urged it to buy more American-made security equipment to move towards a fair two-way trading relationship.
India tariff cuts to boost U.S. export
The Union Government is considering tariff cuts in at least a dozen sectors, from electronics to medical and surgical equipment, and chemicals, to boost U.S. exports in line with country’s domestic production plans, three government officials said.
The officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorised to speak to the media.
Commerce and Industry Ministry and External Affairs Ministry, and the Prime Minister’s office, did not respond to requests for comment emailed outside official work days.
India-U.S. trade ties
Trade ties between the two nations have grown steadily over the last decade, with Washington increasingly viewing India as a counterbalance to China’s growing regional influence.
In a statement on Monday (Feb. 10), PM Modi said, “This visit will be an opportunity to build upon the successes of our collaboration in his [Trump’s] first term.”
He added that technology, trade, defence, energy, and supply chain resilience were areas in which the partnership could be elevated and deepened.
The officials said concessions were being considered on items that India primarily sources from the United States or has more potential appetite to buy, such as dish antennas and wood pulp.
Two-way trade exceeded $118 billion in fiscal 2023-2024, with the country posting a surplus of $32 billion.
Mini trade deal
PM Modi is expected to discuss tariffs with Mr. Trump and India is open to discussing a possible mini trade deal, two government officials said.
His early visit aims to avoid a “trade war-like situation that is happening between the United States and China,” said a third official, who also sought anonymity.
But the meeting has been overshadowed by the recent deportation of Indians from the United States.
Trump’s tariff war
Mr. Trump has already slapped sweeping tariffs of 10% on imports from China, spurring Beijing to respond with duties on American energy.
The discussions on tariff concessions come after India’s Budget cut average import tariff rates to 11% from 13% on several items, besides reducing taxes on high-end bikes and luxury cars.
India is also reviewing surcharges on more than 30 items, including luxury cars and solar cells.
Metals stocks led losses in shares after news of Mr. Trump’s tariff plans on steel and aluminium. Benchmark indexes fell 0.8%, with the metals index dropping 3%.
Nearly a fifth of country’s exports of engineering goods — comprising steel and aluminum and worth about $25 billion — are at risk if Mr. Trump adopts the proposed 25% tariff, an official of an industry body said.
“We are in a wait-and-watch mode and hope the issue can be amicably resolved during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit,” the official said, speaking on condition of anonymity as the matter is a sensitive one.
Published – February 10, 2025 02:53 pm IST
