Episode Details

As India and the United States race to conclude the first phase of their bilateral trade agreement, critical questions remain over tariffs, market access, agriculture and India's bargaining leverage. In this episode, BusinessLine's Amiti Sen speaks with Prof Abhijit Das, an independent trade policy expert, on whether the proposed deal is truly "fair and balanced" or tilted in Washington's favour.

Prof Das argues that India could be lowering its WTO-compliant tariffs while the US retains higher duties through alternative mechanisms such as Section 301 investigations. He also raises concerns about the impact on Indian agriculture, manufacturing and long-term policy autonomy, while questioning claims that the agreement would automatically boost investments or strengthen the rupee.

On the uncertainty surrounding US trade policy, Das delivers a stark assessment: "In a Trumpian era, there is no certainty, no guarantee that the US will comply with its side of a deal." He adds that even if protective clauses are built into an agreement, there is no assurance that future tariff actions will not emerge under different pretexts.

The conversation also explores the legality of Section 301 tariffs under WTO rules, India's options if negotiations falter, and whether New Delhi should have adopted a tougher stance to strengthen its hand at the negotiating table.

(Host: Amiti Sen; Producer: Siddharth MC)