Why Washington Is Hailing India’s ‘Calm Head’ in the Trade Deal

India approached the US tariffs standoff with a “calm head,” resisted escalation, and stuck to its red lines, especially on agriculture. That strategy, US experts say, is what ultimately unlocked the India-US trade deal that cut tariffs on Indian exports to 18% from 25%.

Richard Rossow, Senior Advisor at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), said New Delhi chose negotiation over confrontation, marking a sharp contrast with the trade frictions seen during Donald Trump’s previous term.

“The last time President Trump was in office, there was a medium-intensity trade war,” Rossow said, recalling US tariffs on Indian steel and aluminium and India’s retaliation. “This time, India didn’t fight back. They put their head down, kept negotiating, and tried to comply.”

Rossow noted that while the US pushed hard for reduced trade deficits and agricultural market access, India held firm on politically sensitive staple grains. “For India, certain staples were a no-go—and it looks like those were excluded,” he said, crediting New Delhi for clarity and restraint.

The deal has drawn strong reactions on Capitol Hill.

Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove said the agreement was “long overdue” and urged the Trump administration to move swiftly to repair ties strained by earlier tariffs, particularly the 50% levy that included penalties linked to India’s Russian oil purchases.

“Trump’s reckless tariffs tanked a year of meaningful cooperation,” she said, referring to stalled initiatives such as the Quad Leaders’ Summit. “With this agreement, there is no excuse for continued stagnation.”

She called on Washington to rapidly deepen cooperation with India, calling the partnership too important to leave in limbo.

‘India earned this relief,’ says Senator Lindsey Graham

Republican Senator Lindsey Graham framed the deal through a geopolitical lens, linking tariff relief to India’s recalibration of Russian oil purchases amid the Ukraine war.

“India has more than earned this reduction,” Graham said, praising Trump’s strategy of pressuring Russia’s energy customers. He suggested other countries buying Russian oil should “follow India’s direction.”

For Graham, the deal wasn’t just commercial. It was part of a broader effort to intensify pressure on Moscow and push President Vladimir Putin towards negotiations.

Experts call it the biggest win in a year but warn of unknowns.

South Asia analyst Michael Kugelman described the agreement as the “biggest victory” in India-US relations in nearly a year, particularly after months of stalled talks and diplomatic friction.

“It’s been a long time coming,” Kugelman said, noting that despite warm leader-level ties, multiple negotiation rounds had failed. “For there to be a deal now is really significant. It’s a confidence-building measure.”

But Kugelman also urged caution. He flagged major unanswered questions—ranging from the extent of India’s commitments on Russian oil to whether New Delhi has agreed to open politically sensitive sectors like agriculture. “Until we know what both sides actually conceded, it’s too early to give a conclusive assessment,” he said.

Taken together, reactions from US lawmakers and analysts point to a shared conclusion: India’s restraint, clarity on red lines, and willingness to negotiate quietly—not escalate—reshaped the outcome.

The tariff cut is being read in Washington not just as a trade adjustment, but as a signal that India is now central to US economic and strategic calculations, even as geopolitical complexities persist.

(With inputs from ANI)