Mon Mar 24 14:53:09 UTC 2025: ## US Trade Official Visits India Amidst Looming Tariff Dispute

**New Delhi, March 24, 2024** – As a new round of US tariffs on Indian goods looms, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Brendan Lynch, begins a five-day visit to India on Tuesday. Lynch’s visit comes just days before President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs are set to take effect on April 2nd.

The high-level talks aim to address escalating trade tensions between the two nations. Lynch is scheduled to meet with India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and other senior officials to discuss a potential waiver from the upcoming tariffs and negotiate a framework for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA). This agreement would address concerns regarding levies and market access.

Indian officials are reportedly hoping to secure a temporary exemption from the reciprocal tariffs. Both sides are committed to forging a more balanced and productive trade relationship, as stated by a US official. India’s External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed ongoing negotiations with the US administration to reach a mutually beneficial agreement.

The upcoming BTA negotiations follow a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump last month, where they announced plans to finalize the first phase of the agreement by the fall of 2025.

India has recently lowered tariffs on certain goods, including Bourbon whiskey, wines, and electric vehicles, as a gesture of goodwill. However, the US also seeks to reduce its trade deficit with India (currently around $45 billion in India’s favor) by encouraging increased purchases of American oil, gas, and military equipment.

Despite the trade disputes, the US remains a major trading partner and investor in India, with bilateral trade in goods and services totaling $190 billion in 2023 and the US being the third largest source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in FY2023-24. The outcome of Lynch’s visit will be crucial in determining the future trajectory of US-India trade relations.

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