GTRI: India should propose 'zero for zero tariff strategy'

India should propose a 'zero for zero tariff strategy' to the United States (US), and can identify items where it can eliminate tariffs for American imports, as negotiating a trade agreement could be trickier and force India to make 'difficult concessions', Delhi-based think tank GTRI said on Friday.

- SHREYA NANDI

Indian policymakers, however, should prepare a list of items without harming the domestic industry and exclude most agriculture products. This list should be discussed with the US before April, ahead of its reciprocal tariff announcement, GTRI said in a report. It added that this strategy could be equivalent to a quick goods free trade agreement (FTA) and if the US accepts it, reciprocal tariff may be very low or near zero for India.