Trade Talks: Trump Says Will Have Access Into India, Working On Same Line As Indonesia

United States President Donald Trump has said that Washington’s proposed trade arrangement with India is expected to follow the framework of the recently finalised deal with Indonesia. Under that agreement, Indonesia has opened its market entirely to American goods, while its exports to the US will attract a 19 per cent duty. The pact also includes Indonesian commitments to purchase USD 15 billion worth of US energy, USD 4.5 billion in American agricultural products, and 50 Boeing aircraft.

Speaking to reporters, Trump remarked, “India is basically working along that same line. We are going to have access into India. You have to understand, we had no access to any of these countries. Our people couldn’t go in, and now we are getting access because of what we are doing with the tariffs.”

At present, a delegation from India’s commerce ministry is in Washington for the fifth round of talks to negotiate a bilateral trade agreement (BTA). According to a report by news agency PTI, an interim trade pact is being discussed before a full agreement is expected later this year, around September or October. The United States has reportedly issued letters to various countries detailing reciprocal tariffs that are set to take effect from August 1. India is hoping to finalise the deal ahead of this deadline to avoid retaliatory duties.