India yet to commit to US trade deal amid pressure for zero-tariff on American goods
New Delhi/Washington: India has yet to make a commitment to the Trump administration on its tariff policy, despite mounting pressure from the United States to impose zero tariffs on American goods.
The US government has announced that from April 2, it will impose reciprocal tariffs—matching the taxes levied by other countries on US exports. This has placed India in a difficult position, as Washington has reportedly demanded either minimal or zero tariffs on American products entering the Indian market.
Speaking before the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs, India’s Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal stated that negotiations with the US were ongoing. He confirmed that India has sought time until September 25 to address Washington’s concerns before making a final decision.
Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has reiterated his stance on India's tariff policies. Speaking at the Oval Office, he said, “Canada, Mexico, and then you just go right down the line. India charges us massive tariffs—you can’t even sell anything into India. It’s almost restrictive. It is restrictive. We do very little business inside.”
Trump has previously changed his position on tariffs for key US trading partners, including Canada and Mexico. In recent weeks, he twice reconsidered imposing a flat 25% tariff on both nations. With the new policy set to take effect next month, Trump's final decision on India will be crucial for bilateral trade relations.
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Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
