[Global Times via Reuters] According to a report by Reuters on the 17th, the plan of the U.S. trade negotiator to visit India from the 25th to the 29th has been canceled, and the negotiations on the bilateral trade agreement between the United States and India will be postponed. The Indian Times said that this change has brought uncertainty to the prospects of the sixth round of trade negotiations between the United States and India.
According to the Indian Times, officials said that the U.S. team was originally scheduled to go to India on the 25th to launch a new round of negotiations on the proposed bilateral trade agreement between the United States and India, but “the visit is likely to be rearranged.” From April to July in 2025, the United States was India’s largest trading partner.
Since April, India’s exports to the United States have continued to maintain positive growth. According to data from the Indian Ministry of Commerce, during the period from April to July, India’s exports to the United States increased by 21.64% year-on-year to $33.53 billion, while imports from the United States increased by 12.33% to $17.41 billion. The governments of the United States and India announced earlier that they plan to complete the first phase of negotiations on the bilateral trade agreement by fall 2025. The ultimate goal of both sides is to increase bilateral annual trade volume to $500 billion by 2030, far higher than the current $191 billion.
Behind the canceled visit is the increasingly fierce trade friction between the United States and India. Previously, U.S. President Trump announced that he would impose an additional 25% tariff on Indian goods for India’s continued imports of Russian oil. Together with measures to impose a 25% tariff on imports from India effective from August 7th, American tariffs on Indian goods exported to the United States could reach 50% from the 27th. In response, the Indian Foreign Ministry said that while the United States and the European Union continue to purchase goods from Russia, India has been unfairly treated for purchasing Russian oil. Reuters said that this is one of the highest tariffs imposed by the United States on any trading partner, and the cancellation of this round of negotiations “has dashed hopes for a reduction in tariffs on Indian goods on the 27th.” The Indian Times said that the United States is seeking greater market access in sensitive areas such as Indian agriculture and dairy products, but this could have a serious impact on Indian farmers’ livelihoods, so India “cannot agree.” The Indian government has clearly stated that it will not sacrifice the interests of farmers and breeders.（By Yan Qing）