WASHINGTON, DC – India and the United States are set to hold high-stakes trade talks in Washington, D.C., this week. They aim to finalize an interim trade deal by late June to avert looming U.S. tariffs.
India, seeking to protect $66 billion in exports, is offering to slash tariffs on U.S. agricultural products like almonds, cranberries, and bourbon whiskey from 30–100% to as little as 5%, while safeguarding its dairy and foodgrain sectors to shield local farmers.
The U.S. is pushing for greater market access for its farm goods, including apples, tree nuts, and genetically modified crops, to tap into India’s vast market and reduce a $45 billion trade deficit.
A deal could boost U.S. agricultural exports, already worth $2 billion to India in 2024, by opening new opportunities for farmers in states like California and the Midwest.
Both sides aim to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, but India’s reluctance to lower dairy tariffs and U.S. reciprocal tariff threats remain hurdles.
(SOURCE: Grok 3, an AI developed by xAI, based on analysis of recent industry reports and market data, including sources from reuters.com, cnbc.com, and timesofindia.indiatimes.com)