India’s trade minister has stated that a trade deal with the United States cannot be finalized until a framework is established to ensure India maintains a competitive advantage over other economies. This condition arises after the US Supreme Court struck down previous tariffs, leading to new ones being imposed. The Indian minister emphasized the need for clarity on retaining this advantage before proceeding with the agreement.

• India’s trade minister has set a condition for finalizing a trade deal with the United States.
• The condition is that New Delhi must have a framework offering a competitive advantage over other countries.
• This is in response to the US Supreme Court striking down President Trump’s tariffs and the subsequent imposition of a 10% global tariff.
• India previously negotiated an 18% tariff with Washington, which was seen as competitive.
• The US Treasury Secretary indicated that tariff rates could return to previous levels following Section 301 investigations.