India Stands Firm in US Trade Talks

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent labeled India as “a bit recalcitrant” in ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, highlighting tensions as the two nations work toward a bilateral trade agreement. Speaking on Fox Business Network’s “Kudlow” on Tuesday, Bessent expressed optimism about concluding major trade deals by October, calling the timeline “aspirational” but achievable. “The big trade deals that aren’t done or agreed—Switzerland is still around, India has been a bit recalcitrant,” he said, noting that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and legal teams are actively finalizing agreements.

Bessent’s remarks follow President Donald Trump’s recent executive order imposing a 50% tariff on Indian goods, including a 25% levy tied to India’s purchases of Russian oil, set to take effect on August 27. The White House cited national security and foreign policy concerns, claiming India’s oil imports pose an “unusual and extraordinary threat” to the US. India’s Ministry of External Affairs strongly criticized the tariffs as “unjustified and unreasonable,” vowing to take all necessary measures to protect its national interests and economic security.

The tariff escalation coincides with the sixth round of trade talks, with a US delegation scheduled to visit India on August 25 to negotiate the first phase of a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), targeted for completion by fall 2025. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has emphasized protecting India’s farmers, dairy sector, and fishermen, stating, “We will not compromise” on these priorities, even at a “heavy price.”

Despite the tensions, Bessent suggested that substantial terms could be agreed upon soon, as Trump pursues broader trade and peace initiatives.

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