Tharoor-Led Foreign Affairs Panel Reviews India-US Trade Deal Amid Trump’s Tariff Dispute
Officials have confirmed that the planned visit of US negotiators in the last week of August remains on schedule, as India looks to secure the most favourable trade agreement without compromising national interests.
On Monday, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor chaired a review meeting of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs to discuss India’s trade ties with the United States, particularly in light of the Trump administration’s recent tariff measures.
Senior officials from the Ministries of External Affairs and Commerce & Industry briefed the committee on the status of India-US trade negotiations and tariff-related developments. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri attended the session, which saw participation from 22 of the 30 committee members.
Barthwal outlined the historical depth of India-US relations, stressing their long-standing and strategic nature. He told members that Indian negotiators had clearly conveyed to their American counterparts that certain “red lines” would not be crossed — particularly in the fisheries, dairy, and agriculture sectors.
The ministries assured that the US negotiators’ late-August visit is on track. India’s goal, they said, is to achieve the best possible trade agreement that safeguards national interests and prioritises the welfare of its citizens.
“In today’s meeting, there was discussion on tariffs and the present state of relations with the United States. Fifty questions were raised. Relations with the US are important; trade is only one part of it,” Tharoor remarked after the meeting.
According to sources, a member raised concerns over remarks by Pakistan’s Army Chief, Field Marshal Asim Munir, who reportedly issued a “nuclear threat” against India during his current visit to the US. The member questioned why New Delhi had not issued a stronger rebuttal. Some members suggested India should convey its position more firmly to Washington.
Misri is said to have responded that India had already issued a strong statement and would continue to press the matter with US authorities.
“It was not well-received that Munir made this statement while on the soil of a friendly nation. We will brief everyone about it,” Tharoor noted.
Sources said another member questioned why India appeared to be singled out by the Trump administration, which has imposed much lower tariffs on Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Officials advised waiting for the outcome of the trade talks before making such conclusions.
Concerns were also expressed about the adverse impact of higher US tariffs on India’s economy. Officials pointed out Washington’s unease regarding BRICS and its possible effect on the US dollar, as well as India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
In response to a query on whether the US was displeased over delays in finalising a defence equipment purchase, officials clarified that the deal had neither been cancelled nor rejected, but was pending due to technical reasons.
Members also asked if the forthcoming meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin could bring positive developments for India. Officials said the very fact that both leaders had agreed to meet — with Putin willing to travel to Alaska despite multiple challenges — was an encouraging sign.
“This is a good development. If talks happen after engaging with Putin, then 25% of the issues will be resolved, as most are linked to oil imports from Russia. If the war ends, that tariff will also be lifted. But we still have to work on the remaining 25%, as those too are affecting us,” Tharoor said.
