India-US relations: News and Discussions IV

[Amber G.]

Sharinmg <1 min video> US India Business Council (USIBC) President Atul Keshap (@USAmbKeshap’s) statement on U.S.-India Trade Deal.

[Amber G.]

Recent news blip: Dr. S. Jaishankar meets US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington DC. First high level US-India meeting after announcement of trade deal on strategic and economic partnership.

[Amber G.]

EAM Dr. S. Jaishankar:

Delighted to meet US @SecRubio this afternoon.

A wide ranging conversation that covered our bilateral cooperation agenda, regional and global issues.

Facets of India - US Strategic Partnership discussed included trade, energy, nuclear, defence, critical minerals and technology.

Agreed on the early meetings of various mechanisms to advance our shared interests.

[Amber G.]

What we know of India US trade Deal so far
From Indian Side

-Tariffs on India reduced to 18% from 50%
-$500 bn purchases by India over some years
-Civil nuclear cooperation to increase
-On Agriculture, India's interests remains
-Negotiations continue
-Joint statement soon

From US side
-India to stop buying Russian Oil (claim disputed, Russia reaction too)
-India to buy from Oil from US, Venezuela
-India to reduce tariffs for US on agricultural products, manufactured goods, chemicals, medical devices
-American farm products to get Indian Market

[Amber G.]

Meanwhile: US House passed a $1.2 trillion spending bill (217–214) to end the partial government shutdown and sent it to Trump, who says he will sign it.

[A_Gupta]

A trade deal is. supposed to be a net plus for both sides. The commentaries in the Indian media about which side won and which side lost are misplaced. Yes, some sectors of the economy gain more and some may lose some - on each side; but the goal is a net plus for both sides. That is the very basis of free trade as opposed to extortion.

I think the commentary that says this is still an announcement, not yet a deal are correct.

Also please note:

Prompt: President Trump has signed trade deals with a number of countries over the past year. What is their legal status in the US before they are ratified by the Senate. Briefly please.

Response: They generally have no binding domestic legal force until Congress acts. Internationally, they may signal U.S. intent, but inside the United States they do not change law, tariffs, or obligations until Congress (usually the Senate for treaties, or both chambers for congressional‑executive agreements) approves them....Many recent “mini‑deals”: These are often nonbinding commitments or “hybrid” agreements with uncertain legal status until Congress enacts implementing legislation.

[Aarvee]

Biggest concerns-
"-India to reduce tariffs for US on agricultural products, manufactured goods, chemicals, medical devices
-American farm products to get Indian Market"

[Amber G.]

India-U.S. trade deal will not include sensitive agricultural items and dairy: Goyal

[Jay]

Biggest concerns-
"-India to reduce tariffs for US on agricultural products, manufactured goods, chemicals, medical devices
-American farm products to get Indian Market"

Is this a concern from political or economic POV?

[williams]

I think some of the people in the media and few others in the social media do not understand what trade deal means. It is not a thing where country A will simply start changing its buying and selling pattern because of a deal. It just codifies the tariffs/taxes for various products. Based on that businesses from both sides will then figure out the best way to source their raw materials or finished goods. No matter what Trump wants, Indian government cannot make a business in India to buy American or vice versa. IMO other than high tech speciality items US products are never going to sell competitively in India. So other than oil and high tech goods, US cannot compete with other countries in the Indian market.

[Aarvee]

Is this a concern from political or economic POV?

If industrially produced agricultural goods from the US are cheaper, Indian small-scale farmers may suffer. They could even offer second grade quality materials, which they may usually not consume to price sensitive markets.

In Australia, recently, butter from the US was being sold in supermarkets. The customers overwhelmingly rejected it. But ours is a price sensitive market.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-12/ ... /105738806

[williams]

https://www.politico.eu/article/piyush- ... ald-trump/

Few points

India’s trade chief Piyush Goyal wore a fresh white shirt and a cheeky smile on a sunny morning in Abu Dhabi in early March.

He was surrounded by the world’s top trade diplomats, who feared he was about to undo months of work to restore order to the global trade system.

Goyal’s approach has put Western powers on the back foot. A meeting during trade talks last year opened with him “railing” against colonialism, a senior official from a Western negotiating partner said, noting they weren’t sure if it was part of his strategy.

Goyal’s showmanship and negotiating savvy have made him a weapon for India as it tries to shrug off the shadow of its colonial past and take up its mantle as a global superpower alongside the U.S. and China.

[chetak]

Piddi Argument—'Trump said Agriculture in his post. .@narendramodi is lying'

What Piddis don't know

US Agricultural Products were being Imported by Bharat SINCE BEFORE Feb 2026 #TradeDeal & WILL CONTINUE After:

-Tree Nuts (primarily almonds and pistachios; also walnuts & pecans)
-Fruits (apples, cranberries, blueberries, cherries, pears & processed fruits like prunes or dried cranberries)
-Vegetables (various fresh and processed)
-Pulses (chickpeas/garbanzo beans, lentils, yellow peas)
-Cotton
-Soybean Oil
-Ethanol (for non-fuel industrial purposes)
-Wine & Spirits

US Agricultural Products Which Bharat WILL NOT ALLOW Even After Feb 2026 Trade Deal:

-Dairy Products
-Poultry
-Genetically Modified (GM) Products (such as GM soy or corn)
-Soybeans (whole grain)
-Corn (maize)
-Rice
-Wheat
-Sugar
-Beef
-Ethanol for Fuel Blending

NOTE- Pulses, Soybean Oil & Cotton are imported depending upon shortfall of production in Bharat to bridge demand-supply gap. Also... Bharatiya Farmers are protected with MSP in case of fall of prices due to any reasons.

AB SAMZA TRUMP KYA AUR KYON BOLA?

If Yes—your doubts are solved.
If Not—your Piddi status remains same.