Trade deal guards sensitive sectors, fine print being ironed out: Goyal
Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. The India-US trade agreement protects all sensitive sectors for New Delhi, Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal said, signalling the government’s commitment to the welfare of farmers, fishermen and the dairy sector. Once the agreement takes effect, US tariffs on Indian goods will fall from a steep 50% to 18%, reviving the competitiveness of Indian exports.
While the full contours of the agreement are not released yet, the minister said the trade pact is currently in the final stages of technical detailing between the negotiating teams of both countries. “A joint statement by India and the US will be issued shortly once the final understanding is inked and the technical processes are completed," Goyal said on Tuesday, adding that details would be shared thereafter. “I want to assure the people of India that this is a deal that will make every Indian proud.
It protects the interests of the country and provides significant opportunities for all sections of society," Goyal said. Goyal said that what commerce ministry officials were not able to achieve over several months had been accomplished by the Prime Minister in a single day through a well-negotiated trade agreement. India and the US agreed to conclude a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement on 13 February last year, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's meeting with President Donald Trump.
Talks towards the agreement to expand annual bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, however, were plagued by tariff threats and slow progress. US tariffs on most Indian goods now stand at 50%, including a 25% punitive tariff linked to New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases. On Tuesday, Goyal emphasized that the agreement safeguards sensitive
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