Nueva Delhi: two days after Donald Trump’s statement that India had committed to demolish “very down” tariffs, the government told Monday to a parliamentary panel that no commitments had been made on the issue to the US. And has sought time until September to address the problem that the US president is marking repeatedly.
Appearing before the Parliamentary Committee of External Affairs, the Secretary of Commerce, Sunil Barthwal. Commercial cooperation instead of simply searching immediate rates settings.
He also sought to relieve concerns about tariff actions against India, arguing that New Delhi was committed to Washington in a commercial agreement, in marked contrast with China, Canada and Mexico, where Trump has announced tariff actions, some of which have already entered.
Some opposition parliamentarians such as Asaduddin Owaisi of Aimim, the deep hooda of Congress and Sagarika Ghosh of TMC of TMC questioned the Secretary of Commerce about reciprocal tariffs, which Trump has threatened to impose from April 2 against countries with high rates. According to the sources, Barthwal responded by suggesting that India can escape reciprocal tariffs at the moment.
American conversations could also be beneficial to us: Secretary of Commerce
Some opposition parliamentarians such as Asaduddin Owaisi of Aimim, the deep hooda of Congress and Sagarika Ghosh of TMC of TMC questioned the Secretary of Commerce about reciprocal tariffs, which Trump has threatened to impose from April 2 against countries with high rates.
The parliamentary panel, headed by the deputy of the Congress Shashi Tharoor, had asked the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of Commerce, Vikram Misri, to appear before him and explain the recent developments, including the reports of the media that quoted Trump that India had agreed to reduce his tariffs.
Early in the day, Misri presented the government’s opinion to the members of the panel on constructions reports at the China border and assured the legislators that the two countries were constantly contact and there was nothing to worry about.
Commercial problems are learned and repeated threats of Trump’s tariff actions to have dominated the meeting on Monday, where Barthwal made it clear that the interests of the country would be safeguarded during conversations for the trade agreement. He said the government could only react after the Trump administration had taken some measures, which was not the case until now.
It is known that the Secretary of Commerce has indicated that conversations could also be beneficial to India. There is a section in government that believes that the highest tariffs in countries such as China will open the doors of India in certain sectors in addition to the proposed bilateral agreement that help the export of Indian textiles and leather products.
Last week, the Minister of External Affairs, S Jaishankar, suggested that Trump’s position on tariffs and foreign policy could throw openings for India. Office of the Department of Commerce have argued that India and the United States can complement each other, given the list of products that produce each.
The sources said that the members of the committee asked Misri many specific questions about China and the dam on the Brahmaputra river. He informed the panel that there was no agreement between India and China, but there was a water agreement between India and Pakistan. “Therefore, any problem with China can be bilaterally discussed,” said a source citing Misri. He said that China wanted to restore complete relations with India, with direct flights, visa for visitors and deployment of journalists. He said the conversations continued, but expressed concern about allowing visitors and scribes.