Tharoor-Led Foreign Affairs Panel Reviews India-US Trade Deal Amid Trump's Tariff War
Officials said the planned visit of US negotiators in the last week of August is on schedule as India aims to secure the best trade deal without compromising national interests
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Monday chaired a review meeting of the parliamentary panel on external affairs on the crucial matter of India's trade relations with the United States, with special reference to the latest developments on the Trump administration's tariffs.
Senior representatives of the ministries of external affairs as well as commerce and industry briefed Tharoor on the US-India trade negotiations and tariffs. Commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal and foreign secretary Vikram Misri attended the meeting, which was attended by 22 out of the 30 committee members.
Barthwal outlined the trajectory of India-US relations, noting their deep roots and longstanding history. He told the members that Indian negotiators had firmly communicated to their US counterparts that certain 'red lines" will not be crossed, specifically on fisheries, dairy, and agriculture sectors.
The ministries confirmed that the planned visit of US negotiators in the last week of August is on schedule. India aims to secure the best possible trade deal without compromising national interests, while prioritising the welfare of its people.
'In today's meeting, there was a discussion on tariffs and the current situation with the United States. Fifty questions were asked. Relations with the US are important; trade is just one issue," Tharoor said about the discussion.
According to sources, one member raised concerns on a statement by Pakistani Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir — his statement making a 'nuclear threat" against India — during his current visit to the US. The member questioned why India had not issued a stronger rebuttal, the sources said. Some members suggested that New Delhi should address the matter more firmly with Washington, they added.
Misri reportedly responded by saying India had already issued a strong statement and will continue to press the point with US authorities.
'It was not appreciated that Munir made this statement while standing on the soil of our friendly country. We will inform everyone about this," Tharoor said.
The sources said another member asked why India has been singled out by the Trump administration, which has imposed significantly lower tariffs on Vietnam, Bangladesh, and Pakistan. Officials informed that it would be better to wait for the final outcome of the trade talks before drawing conclusions.
Concerns were also raised about the negative impact of higher US tariffs on India's economy. Officials noted Washington's unease over BRICS and its potential impact on the US dollar, as well as India's ongoing purchase of Russian oil.
Responding to a query on if the US was displeased because India had not finalised a defence equipment purchase, officials said the deal had neither been rejected nor cancelled but was delayed due to technical issues.
Members also asked if the upcoming meeting between President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin might bring positive news for India. Officials said the mere fact the two leaders had agreed to meet, with Putin prepared to travel to Alaska despite multiple challenges, was a promising sign.
'This is a good thing. If the talks take place after speaking with Putin, then the other 25% will be resolved because that was mainly due to taking oil from Russia. If the war ends, that tariff will also end. But we still need to work on the remaining 25%, as that too is affecting us," Tharoor said.
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First Published:
August 12, 2025, 00:44 IST
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