‘No Fear, No Pressure’: Govt Asserts India Holds Strong Negotiating Power With Trump Over Trade Tariffs
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted two key pillars guiding the negotiations: Viksit Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat.
“No fear, no pressure”—this is the firm stand taken by the government when it comes to dealing with the United States over trade tariffs. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal laid out the two core principles steering the discussions: first, Viksit Bharat (Developed India), and second, Atmanirbhar Bharat (Self-Reliant India).
A delegation of American negotiators is slated to arrive for a planned round of talks on August 25. While India is keen on striking a beneficial trade arrangement with one of its key partners, it has made it abundantly clear that it will not engage in negotiations under external pressure or time constraints.
The government’s confidence is backed by several compelling factors, as underlined by the commerce minister. India is a trillion-dollar economy on the rise and has emerged as the fifth-largest in the world. This upward trajectory has drawn the attention of global powers and financial analysts, placing India in a strong position at the negotiating table. Additionally, the recently concluded trade pact with the United Kingdom sends a clear signal to Washington and the international community: India will only pursue deals that align with its sovereign interests.
In the matter of crude oil as well, India has refused to yield to US pressure. Despite former President Donald Trump imposing a 10% levy on nations purchasing Russian oil, India has firmly maintained that it will procure oil from the most cost-effective source in order to benefit domestic consumers. The Ministry of External Affairs echoed this approach, stating, “While fulfilling our energy requirements, we are guided by market availability and the prevailing global conditions.”
As per government officials, Trump has also extended preferential tariff offers to Pakistan and Bangladesh. However, this is of little concern to India, given the negligible volume of trade involved. India continues to be robust, assertive, and self-assured. In contrast to other world leaders who have tried to lobby the American administration for tariff relief, the Indian government has stood its ground. During the upcoming meetings, Indian officials will reiterate their positions clearly: no compromises in the agriculture sector, no unrestricted market access for American goods, no genetically modified foods, and no adverse impact on labour-intensive industries. The government believes that such firm positions may inconvenience American buyers, especially as Indian goods have already found a substantial market there. Notably, Apple CEO Tim Cook has publicly commended Indian talent, calling it unparalleled in quality.
With such a confident approach, the commerce minister has reaffirmed that India has absolutely nothing to be anxious about.
