On condition that former President Trump had been hinting at extra levies for a while, and now we’re seeing motion on that entrance, do you imagine these developments are a part of a broader geopolitical strategy moderately than only a commerce dispute? And the way ought to India view these preliminary strikes—are they threats or openings for strategic negotiation, particularly contemplating the robust democratic and financial alignment between India and the US?
Rajeev Agrawal: This has been constructing for a short while, with Mr. Trump giving loads of indications that there can be extra levies. It simply wasn’t clear what precisely they’d be. What this successfully means is that Trump is not only bargaining on commerce, but additionally on how the complete geopolitical institution views who’s shopping for what.
It is nonetheless early days. As everyone knows, Trump is a troublesome negotiator, and we should acknowledge that these usually are not closing selections—these are simply the opening strikes. I hear loads of commentary from folks taking excessive positions on both facet, however I personally imagine this is a chance for high-level negotiations to resolve the matter.
In the end, India and the US are pure companions by way of how our methods function. We’re each capitalistic, democratic nations, and there’s a lot we are able to collaborate on. Commerce obstacles like these shouldn’t get in the way in which of the long-term future we are able to construct collectively.
As you have been saying, it might truly function a chance. I needed to grasp—what do you make of the timing of this newest announcement of a 50% tariff? NSA Ajit Doval is in Russia in the intervening time, and Trump’s feedback are coming now, whereas on August twenty fifth, a US delegation is scheduled to go to India to debate this matter additional. The tariffs take impact solely on August twenty seventh. So, what do you make of this timeline? What does it counsel about the way forward for ties between the 2 international locations?
Rajeev Agrawal: That’s a vital level you’ve got raised. There are 21 days from now till the tariffs take impact, and there’s nonetheless loads of room for optimistic developments in that window. Now we have the US commerce delegation coming, and naturally, India and the US have been in fixed communication by way of again channels.
The truth that India’s Prime Minister might be attending the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) assembly additionally offers India some leverage—since this includes participating with one of many US’s key world opponents, specifically China, on Chinese language soil. That provides a layer of flexibility.
However clearly, the thought must be for each international locations to maneuver ahead in a means that’s mutually useful. So, the timing suggests to me that there’s nonetheless vital room for negotiation.
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