India, US Continue Talks on Interim Trade Deal Despite Fresh Trump Tariffs: MEA

India on Tuesday said negotiations with the United States on an interim bilateral trade agreement remain firmly on track despite fresh tariff measures announced by the Trump administration and the legal battle they have triggered in the US.

Addressing a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said both countries have already made substantial progress and are working to resolve the remaining issues before finalising the agreement.

"The conversation between India and the United States on the proposed bilateral trade agreement is ongoing. Both sides have done a lot of work in this regard," Jaiswal said.

He added that while a few issues still require finalisation, both governments remain engaged in efforts to conclude the interim pact.

The comments come days after the Trump administration announced fresh tariffs under Section 301 of the US Trade Act, placing India in the lower 10% tariff category while imposing higher duties on several other economies.

The tariff decision has already sparked political and legal opposition in the United States. A coalition of 25 US states, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta along with the attorneys general of Arizona and Oregon, has challenged the measures in the US Court of International Trade, arguing that the administration exceeded its legal authority and that the tariffs would raise costs for American consumers and businesses.

Despite the uncertainty surrounding the new tariff regime, New Delhi has signalled that trade negotiations with Washington remain unaffected, suggesting both sides continue to prioritise the proposed interim agreement as part of broader efforts to deepen economic ties.

(With inputs from ANI)