India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement: Tariff Diplomacy

In an unusual instance, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and US ambassador to India Sergio Gor both strongly denied a report by a foreign news agency that claimed India had stepped back from concluding the India-US bilateral trade agreement. The problem lay in the claim that India had “rejected” finalising the bilateral trade agreement’s (BTA) interim terms and that it was seeking to leverage its success in having sewn up trade agreements with other developed nations and blocs. India’s interests lie in neutralising the serious threat of tariffs that might be imposed as part of Section 301 investigations. The Modi government is also waiting to see what transpires once the temporary 10 per cent tariff expires on July 24. The Indian position, that it seeks a “comparative” advantage over trading rivals, remains its core interest. This may mean any reduction in the 18 per cent tariff agreed on in February will be desirable alongside some sectorspecific concessions.

Himanta’s Pole Position

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma is not a conventional politician. He provided more evidence of this when he said Assam needed a “polarising” figure and that he fit the bill. Sarma was referring to his stand against illegal infiltration that he said cost Assam heavily in economic terms and eroded its cultural identity. Looking to nuance matters, he said the issue was not as much communal, but one of indigenous Assamese rights and the need to confront illegal immigration from Bangladesh.

Unlearnt Lessons

The conviction of former AAP councillor Tahir Hussain for murder and rioting during the anti-Citizenship Amendment Act violence in Delhi in February 2020 should offer an object lesson to several prominent personalities who accused the police of communal bias. Those who had any idea about Hussain were well aware of his antecedents. Petrol bombs and stones and even a catapult to hurl projectiles were found on his roof. These discoveries, however, failed to persuade his defenders that their sympathies might be misplaced.

A Fuel Duel

After considerable heat and dust, the controversy over E20 fuel is dying down. It is now clear that ethanol-added fuel does indeed reduce mileage but has other benefits, like better acceleration and does not reduce the life of rubber parts. Though the fuel has been in use since last year, the high heat spell in May-June seems to have caused problems— more to be seen in high-performance imported engines in European brands. Car makes more commonly available in India have weathered the heat much better.

Bittu Stands Firm

BJP leader Ravneet Singh Bittu has not stepped back from criticising onesided narratives over the film Satluj. In this, he seems like a chip off the old block as his grandfather, the late Beant Singh. It was during Beant Singh’s tenure as chief minister that Punjab turned the page on terrorism.

Old Guard Resists

A legal notice served on NCP questioning Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Sunetra Pawar’s elevation to party president is evidence that unease over the “new order” continues to simmer. Though some of the old guard are also recipients of the notice, it is apparent that NCP veterans will not lie down as they are sidelined.

Sushmita’S Home Run

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi formed the government in 2014 and Congress was reduced to 44 seats in Lok Sabha, Sushmita Dev was among them. In keeping with the party diktat, she faithfully took part in the regular disruption of proceedings. The tactics failed to improve Congress’ prospects and, reading the writing on the wall, she joined the Trinamool Congress in August 2021. Yet, Trinamool is not a force in her native Silchar and Barak Valley, and finally, Dev joined BJP. She might now be able to make her mark as her father Santosh Mohan Dev’s legatee.