Trade Talks Continue Even As U.S. Secretary Calls India “Recalcitrant”

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC — Trade talks between India and the United States are ongoing, even as Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent described India as “a bit recalcitrant” in discussions on major agreements, including one with Switzerland, Reuters reported August 12. Speaking to Fox Business, Bessent said he hoped the Trump administration could finalize negotiations by the end of October.

Despite rising tensions over tariffs, India remains committed to continuing discussions. Reuters cited two Indian lawmakers on August 11 who said trade talks would proceed as planned, even after the U.S. imposed a combined 50% duty on Indian exports in response to New Delhi’s purchase of sanctioned Russian oil.

Shashi Tharoor, opposition Congress leader and head of a parliamentary foreign affairs panel, told reporters that there is no change to the schedule for the sixth round of talks, including a planned visit by a U.S. trade delegation to New Delhi from August 25.

Junior Finance Minister Pankaj Chaudhary added in a written response to lawmakers that roughly 55% of India’s merchandise exports to the U.S. would be affected by the new tariff, factoring in the initial 25% levy. “The Department of Commerce is engaged with all stakeholders” to assess the impact, he said.

Bilateral goods trade between the two countries — the world’s largest and fifth-largest economies — totaled approximately $87 billion in the last fiscal year, according to Indian government estimates.