Daijiworld Media Network- Washington

Washington, Apr 1: The United States has raised concerns over India’s decision to impose a 100% tariff on American agricultural goods, urging for reciprocity ahead of the April 2 deadline. The US Trade Representative (USTR) has called on India to reconsider the tariffs, emphasizing that the move could escalate trade tensions between the two nations.

The U.S. government has been vocal about the impact of these tariffs on American farmers and exporters, particularly in the wake of India’s commitment to fostering a free and fair-trade environment. The USTR pointed out that the tariffs, which affect a wide range of agricultural products, are a significant trade barrier and undermine the spirit of cooperation between the two countries.

India imposed the 100% tariff on certain US agricultural products after the Trump administration’s decision to revoke India’s preferential trade status under the Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) in 2019. The move was intended to rebalance the trade relationship, which had been skewed in favor of India.

“The time has come for reciprocity in our trade dealings. It’s essential that both countries act in good faith and ensure that the trade relationship is mutually beneficial,” said a senior US official.

The looming deadline for India to address the tariff issue has sparked concern among businesses and trade experts who fear that continued tariff imposition could hurt bilateral trade flows and impact broader economic ties.

As negotiations continue, both sides are under pressure to resolve the dispute before the situation exacerbates, with the US urging India to take steps to lower tariffs and restore fair access to American agricultural exports.