U.S. President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi shake hands before their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi in February, 2020.Alex Brandon/The Associated Press
India has delayed plans to send a trade delegation to Washington this week, chiefly because of uncertainty after the U.S. Supreme Court struck down tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, a source in its trade ministry said on Sunday.
One of the first concrete reactions among Asian nations to the decision, it follows Trump’s move on Saturday to levy a temporary tariff of 15 per cent, the maximum allowed by law, on U.S. imports from all countries, after the court’s rejection.
“The decision to defer the visit was taken after discussions between officials of the two countries,” said the source, who sought anonymity as the matter is a sensitive one. “No new date for the visit has been decided.”
The delay came mainly from the uncertainty over tariffs after Friday’s judgment, the source added.
Opinion: Trump’s trade tactics with India remind the world that Canada is a more trustworthy partner
The delegation had been set to leave on Sunday for talks to finalize an interim trade deal, after both countries agreed on a framework for Washington to cut punitive tariffs of 25 per cent on some Indian exports linked to New Delhi’s Russian oil purchases.
U.S. tariffs on Indian goods were set to be cut to 18 per cent, while India agreed to buy U.S. items worth US$500-billion over five years, ranging from energy supplies to aircraft and parts, precious metals and technology products.
India’s opposition Congress party had called for the interim pact to be put on hold, urging a renegotiation and questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to issue a joint statement before the court’s ruling.
On Saturday, the Indian trade ministry said it was studying the implications of the judgment and later U.S. announcements.
Last week, Trade Minister Piyush Goyal said the interim pact could take effect in April, after outstanding issues were resolved during the delegation’s visit to Washington.