The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Tuesday welcomed the announcement of an India–United States trade deal under which the US has reduced tariffs on Indian goods from 25 per cent to 18 per cent. She said the move would significantly benefit Made-in-India products and strengthen economic ties between the two democracies.
In a post on X, Sitharaman described the development as “good news for Made in India products,” adding that people in both countries stand to gain. She thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump for their leadership in finalising the agreement.
The announcement followed US President Trump’s statement on Monday that Washington and New Delhi had agreed to a trade deal, citing “friendship and respect” for Prime Minister Modi as the basis for lowering reciprocal tariffs. Trump said he had spoken with Modi earlier in the day and described him as a close friend and a powerful, respected leader.
In a post on Truth Social, Trump also claimed that India had agreed to stop purchasing Russian oil and to increase imports from the United States, and potentially Venezuela. He further stated that India would move towards reducing both tariff and non-tariff barriers on US goods.
Prime Minister Modi, responding on X, said it was wonderful to speak with President Trump and expressed delight over the reduced tariffs on Indian products. He thanked the US President on behalf of the Indian people for the decision.
Meanwhile, a White House official told that the US would also withdraw the additional 25 per cent tariff imposed on Indian imports over New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil, noting that India would need to cease—not merely reduce—such purchases.
