PTI
New York/Washington
President of US Donald Trump has said that his country is close to making a trade deal with India, as his administration started sending letters detailing the levies that Washington will impose on products from those countries entering America.
“Now, we’ve made a deal with the United Kingdom, we’ve made a deal with China…We’re close to making a deal with India,” Trump said.
“Others we met with and we don’t think we’re going to be able to make a deal, so we just send them a letter. If you want to play ball, this is what you have to pay.”
His remarks came as the US extended the suspension of its April 2 reciprocal tariffs until August 1, providing a three-week time for India and the US to resolve their pending issues.
Last week, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that India does not enter into any trade agreement based on deadlines and will accept the proposed trade deal with the US only when it is fully finalised, properly concluded and in the national interest.
The high tariffs announced by the US on April 2 were suspended by the Trump administration till July 9.
The agriculture and dairy sectors are difficult and challenging areas for India to give duty concessions to the US. India has not opened up dairy in any of its free trade pacts signed so far.
Trump’s remarks came as his administration sent out the first tranche of “letters” to various countries detailing the tariffs that the US will impose on products from those countries entering America. India was not included in the list of countries that received tariff letters from the Trump administration on Monday.
The countries that got these letters, signed by Trump, included Bangladesh, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cambodia, Indonesia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Malaysia.
