India US trade deal: India offers zero tariffs on US goods, says Trump

New Delhi: President Donald Trump on Thursday announced that India has proposed a bilateral trade deal that would allow American goods to be exported without tariffs, as part of ongoing efforts to expand economic ties between the two nations.

Speaking during a meeting with business executives in Doha, Qatar, where he is on a state visit, Trump said, "They are offering us a deal where basically they are willing to literally charge us no tariffs." However, he did not elaborate on the sectors or products covered under the proposal.

Trump also revealed that he had advised Apple CEO Tim Cook against expanding manufacturing operations in India, urging the tech giant to increase production within the United States instead. “Apple will be upping its production in the United States,” the President stated.

The announcement comes amid ongoing discussions between India and the United States on the Bilateral Trade Agreement, which aims to deepen economic cooperation and strengthen supply chains. Representatives from India’s Department of Commerce and the Office of the US Trade Representative held comprehensive negotiations in Washington from April 23 to 25. These talks were geared toward finalising the first tranche of the multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement by the fall of 2025.

The April meetings followed earlier discussions held in New Delhi in March. According to a statement from India’s Ministry of Commerce, both sides engaged in “fruitful discussions on wide-ranging subjects covering tariff and non-tariff matters.” The statement also noted that the teams identified “opportunities for early mutual wins” and outlined a roadmap for concluding the agreement’s initial phase within the agreed timeline.

In addition to the virtual engagements that have been taking place, the two sides plan to begin in-person sectoral consultations by the end of May.

These negotiations are being pursued in line with the 'Leaders’ Statement of February 2025,' following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington earlier this year. During his visit, Modi and Trump agreed to prioritise the conclusion of a mutually beneficial Bilateral Trade Agreement by the fall and committed to deepening trade ties based on fairness, national security, and job creation.

As part of this renewed partnership, the two leaders also launched “Mission 500,” a joint initiative to more than double India-US bilateral trade to $500 billion by the year 2030.

With IANS inputs