No commitment to US on tariffs: Govt to Parlimantary panel | India News

US President Donald Trump

NEW DELHI: Two days after Donald Trump’s declare that India had dedicated to carry tariffs “way down”, govt on Monday informed a parliamentary panel that no commitments on the problem had been made to the US and it has sought time till Sept to handle the problem that’s being repeatedly flagged by the American president.
Appearing earlier than the parliamentary standing committee on exterior affairs, commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal is learnt to have stated that India and the US have been working in direction of a mutually useful bilateral commerce settlement, focusing on long-term commerce cooperation as a substitute of merely in search of speedy tariff changes.
He additionally sought to allay issues over tariff actions towards India, arguing that New Delhi was engaged with Washington on a commerce deal, in sharp distinction to China, Canada and Mexico — the place Trump has introduced tariff actions, a few of which have already kicked in.
Some opposition MPs like AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress’s Deepender Hooda and TMC’s Sagarika Ghosh are learnt to have questioned the commerce secretary on reciprocal tariffs, which Trump has threatened to impose from April 2 towards nations with excessive tariffs. According to sources, Barthwal responded by suggesting that India could escape reciprocal tariffs for the second.

US talks may additionally show useful for us: Commerce secretary
Some opposition MPs like AIMIM’s Asaduddin Owaisi, Congress’s Deepender Hooda and TMC’s Sagarika Ghosh are learnt to have questioned the commerce secretary on reciprocal tariffs, which Trump has threatened to impose from April 2 towards nations with excessive tariffs.
The parliamentary panel, headed by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, had requested commerce secretary and international secretary Vikram Misri to seem earlier than it and clarify current developments, together with media experiences quoting Trump that India had agreed to decrease its tariffs.
Earlier within the day, Misri introduced govt’s view to panel members about experiences of constructions on China border and guaranteed lawmakers that the 2 nations have been in fixed contact and there was nothing to be involved about.
Trade points and Trump’s repeated threats of tariff actions are learnt to have dominated the assembly Monday, the place Barthwal made it clear that the nation’s pursuits can be safeguarded throughout talks for commerce deal. He stated govt may solely react after Trump administration had taken some steps, which was not the case to date.
The commerce secretary is learnt to have identified that the talks may additionally show to be useful for India. There is a piece in govt which believes larger tariffs on nations similar to China will open the doorways for India in sure sectors as well as to the proposed bilateral settlement serving to export of Indian textiles and leather-based merchandise.
Last week, exterior affairs minister S Jaishankar had urged that Trump’s stance on tariffs and international coverage may throw up openings for India. Commerce division officers have maintained that India and US can complement one another, given the record of merchandise that every produces.
Sources stated committee members requested Misri many pointed questions on China and the dam on Brahmaputra river. He knowledgeable the panel that there was no settlement between India and China, however there was a water settlement between India and Pakistan. “So, any issue with China can be discussed bilaterally only,” a supply quoted Misri as saying. He stated China wished to restore full-fledged relations with India, with direct flights, visa for guests and deployment of journalists. He stated talks have been persevering with, however expressed concern about permitting guests and scribes.