India’s decision to delay high-level talks underscores how Washington’s abrupt shift to a 15% global tariff has reset the negotiating baseline and forced both sides back to strategic recalibration.
India has postponed a planned visit by its top trade negotiators to Washington, D.C., after President Donald Trump moved swiftly to impose a 15% global import tariff following a landmark court ruling on his earlier trade measures.
According to a person familiar with the development who spoke to CNBC, the visit “will be rescheduled at a mutually convenient date,” as both sides assess the implications of the latest U.S. action. The reassessment comes after the Supreme Court of the United States struck down several of Trump’s previous tariffs as illegal. Within hours, the administration invoked Section 122 of the Trade Act of 1974 to first impose a 10% global import duty, later increasing it to 15%.
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The abrupt escalation has effectively altered the framework under which India and the U.S. were negotiating an interim trade agreement.
A Deal in Motion, Now in Flux
India’s chief negotiator, Darpan Jain, and his team had been scheduled to begin a three-day round of in-person meetings this week with the office of the U.S. Trade Representative, led by Ambassador Jamieson Greer. Those talks were widely viewed as a precursor to finalizing the legal text of the interim agreement.
Earlier this month, the two sides agreed in principle to reduce India’s reciprocal tariff exposure from 25% to 18%, with provisions allowing for adjustments. A joint statement issued on Feb. 6 stated: “In the event of any changes to the agreed-upon tariffs of either country, the United States and India agree that the other country may modify its commitments.”
With the U.S. applying a 15% global tariff across the board, the negotiated 18% figure loses much of its relative benefit. Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative and a former Indian trade negotiator, noted that India, like other trading partners, appears set to face the 15% levy in addition to most-favored-nation (MFN) rates, typically around 2–3%.
In practical terms, this narrows the preferential margin India had secured and raises questions about whether the interim arrangement still delivers sufficient economic advantage.
“The 18% tariff negotiations were based on a certain premise of some benefits which is now gone. Now, both sides have to rethink their strategy,” Srivastava said, adding that Washington may have “more pressing issues” following the court ruling and its aftermath.
For India, the delay suggests a desire to avoid locking in commitments under conditions that are rapidly evolving. New Delhi must assess how the 15% global tariff interacts with sector-specific duties and how it affects key export categories such as pharmaceuticals, textiles, auto components, and information technology services-linked goods.
From Washington’s perspective, invoking Section 122 provides a legally distinct basis for imposing tariffs after the Supreme Court curtailed earlier emergency-based measures. Section 122 allows temporary tariffs to address balance-of-payments concerns or currency issues, but its use on a broad global scale introduces fresh legal and diplomatic complexities.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer announced on Friday that his office will launch multiple new investigations under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, covering most major U.S. trading partners.
Others Too: The Implications Are Far-Reaching
The reset in U.S. tariff policy does not affect India in isolation. The flat 15% global duty alters competitive dynamics across emerging markets and advanced economies alike. Countries that had been negotiating tailored reductions now find themselves facing a standardized baseline.
Greer sought to reassure trading partners and markets that the ruling would not derail ongoing trade agreements.
“The administration is confident that all trade deals negotiated by President Trump will stay in effect,” he said. “Our partners have been responsive and engaged in good-faith negotiations and agreements despite the pending litigation.”
For India, the postponement of talks may serve several objectives:
- Re-evaluating whether to seek deeper tariff concessions in light of the new baseline.
- Assessing domestic industry impact before formalizing commitments.
- Monitoring potential legal or political challenges within the U.S. to the new tariff structure.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had indicated on Friday that the interim agreement was likely to be signed in March and implemented in April. That timeline now appears uncertain.
India and the United States have expanded trade ties significantly in recent years, with bilateral goods and services trade crossing record levels. Washington has sought greater market access for agricultural products and manufactured goods, while India has prioritized tariff relief and improved access for its exports.
The global tariff increase reshapes bargaining power. A uniform 15% duty may reduce Washington’s need to negotiate country-specific concessions quickly, while India must weigh whether waiting could yield more clarity or better terms.
However, the decision to reschedule, rather than cancel, the talks suggests that both governments remain committed to the broader objective of an interim agreement. But the immediate priority appears to be strategic clarity.