Too early to comment on US tariff changes; commerce ministry reviewing situation: Sitharaman
New Delhi (PTI): Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday said it is too early to comment on the tariff changes announced by the United States, and the Commerce Ministry is reviewing the situation.
On Friday, the US Supreme Court gave a verdict against the sweeping import tariffs imposed by the Trump administration on trade partners.
Following the ruling, President Donald Trump imposed a 10 per cent tariff on all countries, including India, for 150 days from February 24. Later on Saturday, Trump announced raising these tariffs to 15 per cent.
Asked about the impact of tariff changes on the Indian economy, Sitharaman said it is "a bit too soon" to comment.
ALSO READ: Delhi remains warm, temperature hits 30.5 degrees C
"But on the trade, particularly, aside from the Indian economy in general, the commerce ministry is reviewing the situation. The delegation will have to take a call on when they are going to go for further negotiations. So, it's a bit too early for me (to comment)," Sitharaman said.
On Sunday, India and the US decided to reschedule the proposed meeting of their chief negotiators, scheduled to be held in Washington from Monday, to finalise the text for the interim trade pact, according to sources.
Joint Secretary in the Commerce Ministry, Darpan Jain, is the chief negotiator of India for this agreement.
Talking to reporters after addressing the RBI's Central Board here, Sitharaman said India has been on a very clear path of wanting to have trade deals and has already inked pacts with Australia, New Zealand, the UAE, Qatar, Oman, the EU and the UK.
"So, therefore, our attempt to have a trade agreement will go on with countries, " she said, adding that India wants the economy to have the advantage of trading globally and being able to reach global markets.
Speaking on the issue, RBI Governor Sanjay Malhotra said, "The government has now a number of agreements for international trade that it has signed. So, that will help our current account even further going forward".
Even on the capital side, he said, it will help because trade and investments generally go together.
Over and above that, a number of policies that the government has come out on the FDI side, the latest being opening up 100 per cent insurance sector and commitment towards data centres, would help boost investment, he said.
"We have sufficient reserves. So, the external side is very strong, including the rest of the macroeconomic sector is very strong," he said.
With regard to setting up the National Financial Information Registry (NFIR), Malhotra said, "We have had multiple rounds of discussion with the government and with all the stakeholders and most of the contours and the framework of the NFIR have been finalised. We are giving final touches in the RBI".
After having done that, he said, the RBI will send its proposals, comments, and suggestions to the government.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Delhi: Father, son held for killing 19-year-old woman in suspected honour killing
New Delhi (PTI): The Delhi Police has arrested a man and his son for allegedly murdering his 19-year-old daughter in west Delhi's Hari Nagar area, an official said on Friday.
The case first came to light on April 1 after a PCR call was received around 2 pm, alleging that a woman had been killed by her family members and her body was being taken for last rites, he said.
The accused, identified as Mohammad Maneer (55), a vegetable vendor, and his son Meraj Ali (19), were arrested in connection with the case, the officer said.
The victim had been in a relationship with a man from her native place for the past two years, which was opposed by her father, Maneer and brother Meraj, he said.
"When the girl did not end the relationship despite objections, the family killed her," the officer said.
On April 1, the police said that when their team reached the spot, they found that the woman's body was being taken for burial.
Acting on the input, the burial process was stopped over suspicion of honour killing.
"Police intercepted the family members and took possession of the body," he said.
Police said that the man who had made the PCR told them that the woman was in love with his cousin.
During the inquiry, police also interacted with the PCR caller, who said his cousin, a friend of the deceased, had informed him about the situation and suspected foul play, prompting him to alert the police control room.
The body of the woman was subsequently shifted to the mortuary of Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital for preservation and postmortem.
Police said that both the crime team and the forensic science laboratory (FSL) team were called to inspect the scene and collect evidence.
Police said that, as per the postmortem report, the cause of death was identified as smothering, indicating that the woman was suffocated.
A preliminary inquiry also revealed that the family had initiated preparations for the last rites soon after the woman's death, raising suspicion about the circumstances.
Initial investigation pointed to the family's opposition to the woman's relationship.
"The family members of the woman saw her with the man, and she was taken back home. We got to know that she was beaten up and even locked inside the house for some days," a source said.
Further investigation into the matter is underway, police added.
