India Races for 1st Tranche of US BTA

Hopes to use 90-day tariff pause to speed up trade deal discussions

- SHREYA NANDI

With US President Donald Trump "temporarily suspending" country-specific reciprocal tariffs until July 9, India sees the three-month window as an opportunity to renew its push for a proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the US and expedite finalization of the first tranche of the trade deal.

"The 90-day pause on the 26 per cent reciprocal tariff (imposed by the US on Indian imports) gives us the window to expedite the trade deal discussions that began last month. We still don't know if the pause on reciprocal tariffs will continue beyond 90 days," a senior government official told Business Standard.

Finalising at least the first tranche of the deal may offer some relief to Indian exporters, even if Washington decides to continue with the 26 per cent reciprocal tariffs after the three-month pause, the official added.