News Brief
India Should Withdraw From All Negotiations With US, Prepare To Deal With Trump Administration Like Other Countries Are Doing: GTRI
India Must Rethink US Trade Talks, Calls For Stronger Stance Amid Trump’s ‘Misleading’ Claims: GTRI (File Photo)
India should reconsider its approach to trade negotiations with the United States, stepping away from ongoing discussions and adopting a more strategic stance, according to the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), reported PTI.
The think tank suggests that Washington’s demands are overwhelmingly in its own favor, leaving little room for fair negotiations.
US-India Trade Relations Under Strain
The current US administration, led by President Donald Trump, has been vocal in its criticism of India’s trade policies, often presenting questionable data to support its claims.
Ajay Srivastava, founder of GTRI, believes that Trump’s public remarks are misleading and that India should take a firmer stance rather than continue negotiations under such conditions.
"Trump is insulting India publicly using wrong data. No balanced outcome is possible in such circumstances. India should withdraw from all negotiations and prepare to deal with them like other countries are doing," Srivastava was quoted as saying by PTI.
Concerns Over Unilateral US Demands
One of the key pressure points is market access, particularly in the agriculture sector, where US officials insist that India must open its doors further.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has pushed for a broad trade agreement, arguing that a sector-by-sector approach would be inadequate.
Srivastava criticised India's muted response, warning that failure to challenge such narratives could weaken India’s negotiating position.
Unlike India, China and Canada have opted for direct countermeasures against US tariffs, making it clear that they will not yield to pressure.
A Proactive Path Forward for India
A recent GTRI report from February 2025 proposes an alternative approach. It recommends that India could consider offering tariff eliminations on select industrial goods—only if the US agrees to similar concessions.
Additionally, India should identify industries where tariff cuts would not undermine domestic manufacturing, a method it has used in past trade agreements with Japan, Korea, and ASEAN.
