CHOPPY TRADE WATERS

With the sword of reciprocal tariffs hanging over its head, India lost no time in trying to seal a trade deal with the United States that aims to increase bilateral trade from $200 billion (Rs 17.4 lakh crore) at present to $500 billion (Rs 43.6 lakh crore) by the turn of the decade.

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But neither that deal nor India’s decision to lower tariffs on some US imports like Harley-Davidson bikes or bourbon whiskey is likely to ward off the planned reciprocal tariffs. So what then are India’s options? “The last time Donald Trump was in office, he was the least prepared president because nobody expected him to win. This time, he’s probably the most prepared president,” Ashok Malik, partner,