India stands ready to defend its core interests in the bilateral trade compact with America, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal asserted Friday, as the US Supreme Court’s annulment of Trump administration tariffs reshapes the negotiation terrain.
At a high-profile media briefing, Goyal laid out a clear strategy: vigilant oversight of Washington’s policy pivots and, if required, a renegotiation to realign the deal. ‘With tariffs in play and situations evolving, India will prioritize its protections,’ he said emphatically.
The minister parsed the volatility ahead, from potential 15 percent hikes to other countermeasures in the Trump playbook. ‘The joint statement explicitly provides for rebalancing amid changes,’ Goyal reminded, underscoring ongoing talks.
Buoyed by the agreement’s upsides, Goyal spotlighted safeguards for dairy and agriculture—bedrock sectors for millions of Indian farmers. ‘This is about competitive global positioning,’ he remarked, while forecasting an export uptick for India despite turbulent trade winds.
The Supreme Court decision prompted a tactical pause: the planned February 23 trilateral talks in the US, involving lead negotiators for three days, are deferred. Both capitals aim to reconvene promptly, factoring in the tariff rollback’s broader ramifications to forge a resilient pact.