New Delhi: Top officials of the central government, involved in tariff negotiations with the US, suggested that it is a tough phase in trade relations and there are some red lines which India cannot cross, while asserting that India is committed to engage constructively to resolve all outstanding issues with the US through dialogue and mutual respect.
Officials also addressed the concerns regarding purported dip in Indo-US relations underlining that trade is just one aspect of the relations and it needs to be taken into consideration that President Donald Trump approved extradition of Tahawwur Rana during Prime Minister Modi's visit, designated The Resistance Front as a terrorist organisation and took the lead in UN Security Council condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, Special Secretary in Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal, also the India's chief negotiator on the trade deal with US, along with several other officials of the Union government briefed the parliamentary panel on external affairs chaired by Congress MP and former Union minister Shashi Tharoor. Officials from the commerce ministry made the presentation to the panel and also talked about the measures taken to mitigate the impact of US tariffs.
The Department of Commerce is working on export diversification strategy to tap the potential of India's trade agreements with the UAE, Australia, ASEAN, Japan, Korea and Mauritius and is also working on to leverage opportunities with new trade partners such as EFTA and UK, sources said citing the commerce ministry note to the panel.
Efforts are being intensified to speedily conclude ongoing negotiations with the EU, they said. Responding to the panel's queries, officials from the commerce ministry suggested that it is a tough phase in Indo-US trade relations while officials from external affairs ministry said there are certain red lines which India cannot cross. Officials also underlined that India's position on tariffs is firm but constructive. And India is regrettably, being drawn into a geopolitical contest that is neither of its making nor one in which it seeks to take sides.
Imposing unilateral, punitive measures on third countries only serve to erode trust and distort global trade norms. The US decision underscores an unfortunate persistence of double standards in some quarters of the international community, sources in the panel said, citing the notes shared by the officials.
Officials also addressed the concerns regarding purported dip in Indo-US relations underlining that trade is just one aspect of the relations and it needs to be taken into consideration that President Donald Trump approved extradition of Tahawwur Rana during Prime Minister Modi's visit, designated The Resistance Front as a terrorist organisation and took the lead in UN Security Council condemning the Pahalgam terrorist attack.
Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal, Special Secretary in Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal, also the India's chief negotiator on the trade deal with US, along with several other officials of the Union government briefed the parliamentary panel on external affairs chaired by Congress MP and former Union minister Shashi Tharoor. Officials from the commerce ministry made the presentation to the panel and also talked about the measures taken to mitigate the impact of US tariffs.
The Department of Commerce is working on export diversification strategy to tap the potential of India's trade agreements with the UAE, Australia, ASEAN, Japan, Korea and Mauritius and is also working on to leverage opportunities with new trade partners such as EFTA and UK, sources said citing the commerce ministry note to the panel.
Efforts are being intensified to speedily conclude ongoing negotiations with the EU, they said. Responding to the panel's queries, officials from the commerce ministry suggested that it is a tough phase in Indo-US trade relations while officials from external affairs ministry said there are certain red lines which India cannot cross. Officials also underlined that India's position on tariffs is firm but constructive. And India is regrettably, being drawn into a geopolitical contest that is neither of its making nor one in which it seeks to take sides.
Imposing unilateral, punitive measures on third countries only serve to erode trust and distort global trade norms. The US decision underscores an unfortunate persistence of double standards in some quarters of the international community, sources in the panel said, citing the notes shared by the officials.
