US Pressures India To Grant Amazon, Walmart Same E-Commerce Privileges As Reliance

India-West News Desk
NEW DELHI – President Donald Trump is pushing India to open its $125 billion e-commerce market to American giants like Amazon and Walmart, according to a report by the Financial Times on April 22, citing industry executives, lobbyists, and U.S. government officials.

This comes as part of a broader push for a more favorable trade agreement between the U.S. and India, which will cover a wide range of sectors, from food to automobiles.

The Trump administration is pressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government to provide a “level playing field” for e-commerce in ongoing negotiations for a U.S.-India trade deal, according to the Financial Times. The report did not specify the exact demands but the pressure for greater market access remains clear.

Amazon and Walmart currently operate in India through local subsidiaries but are restricted from holding inventory and directly selling to consumers. This contrasts with domestic competitor Reliance, Reuters pointed out, which enjoys the ability to open physical stores and leverage its extensive retail network across the country. The restrictions are seen as a significant barrier to the two U.S. giants’ potential for growth in the Indian market.

New Delhi officials are hopeful of reaching a deal within the 90-day window following Trump’s announcement of a tariff pause for major trading partners on April 9.