New Delhi’s strategic diplomacy has borne fruit with the India-US bilateral trade deal, granting Indian businesses preferential entry into America’s $30 trillion economy. Government sources revealed Monday that this expansive agreement slashes import duties to zero on numerous items, directly benefiting exporters while bolstering tech and digital partnerships.
Protection for vulnerable domestic players—farmers, small businesses, and local manufacturers—remains a cornerstone, ensuring the deal doesn’t undermine India’s heartland economies. With 2024 exports to the US already at $86.35 billion, sectors hungry for growth like apparel, leather goods, jewelry, farm produce, pharma, and hi-tech stand to thrive.
Tariff cuts are dramatic: 50% down to 18% on $30.94 billion of exports, and fully zeroed out on $10.03 billion more. Textile exporters can now penetrate a $113 billion US market, machinery firms a colossal $477 billion one, and footwear players the $42 billion segment—all at steeply reduced rates.
India shrewdly ring-fenced dairy, meats, poultry, and cereals from any concessions. The real edge comes from US tariffs hammering competitors: 37% on China, 20% on Vietnam and Bangladesh, 19% on Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Cambodia, and Thailand. This levels the playing field dramatically for India.
As implementation unfolds, expect a surge in job creation and manufacturing revival. This isn’t just trade—it’s a blueprint for India’s ascent as a global export powerhouse, cementing ties with its key ally amid shifting world dynamics.