India's political landscape is ablaze with activity! From the ongoing debates surrounding the new farm bills and their impact on rural India, to the upcoming state elections shaping the national narrative, the stakes couldn't be higher. Key political figures are maneuvering strategically, with alliances shifting and power dynamics constantly in flux. The opposition's challenge to the ruling party is intensifying, sparking vigorous debates on crucial policy matters including economic reforms and social justice initiatives. Parliamentary proceedings are filled with heated exchanges, reflecting the deep divisions within the nation. This evolving political climate directly impacts the lives of every Indian citizen, influencing everything from economic opportunities to social welfare programs. Stay informed about the latest developments in Indian politics, from crucial legislative decisions to grassroots movements, by exploring Abtak.com for in-depth analysis and breaking news updates. Understanding the intricacies of our political system is crucial; stay engaged, stay informed, and stay ahead.
Summary India seeks WTO talks after EU proposed tariffs and quotas on ferro-alloy imports. While the impact may be limited, move increases uncertainty amid global trade turmoil. India has approached the World Trade Organization (WTO) for consultations with the European Union (EU) as the bloc's proposed tariffs and quotas on ferro-alloy imports deepen worries about global trade uncertainty when the two parties are negotiating a free-trade pact. India has a substantial trade interest in the prod
NEW DELHI: India has seen limited success so far in capturing the 'China Plus One strategy', while Vietnam, Thailand, Cambodia, and Malaysia have become bigger beneficiaries, according to a report of government think tank Niti Aayog. It said that factors such as cheaper labour, simplified tax laws, lower tariffs and pro-activeness in signing Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) have played a critical role in helping these countries expand their export shares. The US has implemented stricter export controls and higher tariffs on Chinese goods to limit China's growth and expenditure towards technologi ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: Trade talks between India and the US appear to be back on track, as President Donald Trump hinted that a "very big" agreement with India will be forthcoming soon. In a presser at the White House, Trump said, "Everybody wants to make a deal and have a part of it. Remember a few months ago, the press was saying, 'You really have anybody of any interest? Well, we just signed with China yesterday. We are having some great deals. We have one coming up, maybe with India. Very big one. Where we're going to open up India, in the China deal, we are starting to open up China.""We're not going ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 5 (UNI) Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, today took a swipe at the Modi government over the ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, alleging that the Prime Minister will "meekly bow" to the pressure from US President Donald Trump's tariff deadline. "Piyush Goyal can beat his chest all he wants, mark my words, Modi will meekly bow to the Trump tariff deadline," Gandhi wrote on X, targeting the Union Commerce and Industry Minister. Notably, Goyal had reiterated India's steadfast approach to international trade, stressing that the country negotiate ...Read More >
New Delhi: In a move to mutually protect and promote investments in each other's countries, India is actively negotiating bilateral investment treaties (BITs) with over a dozen countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Israel, Oman, European Union, Switzerland, Russia, and Australia. Apart from these nations, talks are also underway with Tajikistan, Cambodia, Uruguay, Maldives, Switzerland and Kuwait, according to a source. Amid uncertainties over US President Donal Trump's reciprocal tariff, India is making its all-out efforts to remain in the fastest growing economy in the world. With India ...Read More >
NEW DELHI (Reuters) -Trade talks between Indian and U.S. officials have been extended into next week as both sides seek consensus on tariff cuts in the farming and auto sectors, aiming to finalise an interim deal before a July 9 deadline, Indian government sources said. A U.S. delegation led by senior officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) held two days of discussions in New Delhi with Indian trade officials headed by chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, the sources said. "The two countries are actively engaged in focused discussions to facilitate greater mark ...Read More >
June 30 (Reuters) - Futures tracking the S&P 500 and Nasdaq touched record highs on Monday, as optimism over U.S. trade negotiations with its key partners helped support upward momentum in markets. Shares of technology heavyweights rose premarket after Canada scrapped its digital services tax targeting U.S. tech firms, just hours before it was due to take effect, in a bid to advance stalled trade negotiations with the United States. Shares of Amazon (AMZN.O), opens new tab, Meta Platforms (META ...Read More >
New Delhi: The letter was sharp and its message was unmistakable. Sri Lanka. Algeria. Iraq. Libya. Brunei. Moldova. Philippines. All now slapped with fresh US tariffs - some as high as 30%. The White House did not blink. The list kept growing. Seven more countries have now been pulled into President Donald Trump's intensifying tariff dragnet, expanding his sweeping campaign to punish what he calls "unfair treatment" of American goods. The new penalties land hard. Sri Lanka, Algeria, Iraq and Libya now face 30% tariffs. Brunei and Moldova were hit with 25%. The Philippines got docked at 20%. T ...Read More >
Ahmedabad, June 27: Union Home Minister Amit Shah began his Gujarat visit on a spiritual note early Friday morning by participating in the Mangala Aarti at the historic Shri Jagannathji Temple in Jamalpur, Ahmedabad. The visit coincides with the auspicious occasion of the annual Shri Jagannath Rath Yatra, a major religious event that draws thousands of devotees every year. Arriving at the temple at 3:15 a.m., HM Shah joined in the sacred rituals and offered prayers to Mahaprabhu Jagannath. Sharing his experience on social media platform X, he posted, "On the sacred occasion of Rath Yatra, par ...Read More >
MUMBAI, July 3 (Reuters) - The Indian rupee touched its strongest level in a month on Thursday, lifted by dollar sales from foreign banks and cutting of bearish bets on the local currency, while optimism surrounding a U.S.-India trade deal also aided sentiment. The rupee rose to a peak of 85.20, its best level since late May, before ending the session at 85.31, up 0.4% on the day. Dollar sales from foreign banks in the latter half of Thursday's session boosted the rupee, with the rise above 85.40 also triggering stop-losses on some wagers against the currency, traders said. Asian currencies ...Read More >
New Delhi: India could benefit from relatively lower US tariffs than many countries in the Asia Pacific, which would help India attract further investment flows and support its development as a global manufacturing hub, Moody's Ratings said on Thursday. The finalisation of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the UK in May and ongoing negotiations for a similar pact with the European Union are expected to further support such progress, it added. However, the ratings agency cautioned that the US' efforts to reshore certain manufacturing segments could challenge the extent to which India gains. ...Read More >
New Delhi: India could be among the countries expected to finalise a trade deal with the US soon, as President Donald Trump steps up pressure by issuing formal tariff letters to several nations, but New Delhi must tread carefully, economic think tank GTRI said on Tuesday. "Trump's model isn't a free trade agreement, it's a YATRA - Yielding to American Tariff Retaliation Agreement," the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said. The US has extended the deadline for countries to finalise bilateral trade deals with the US from July 9 to August 1, giving a final three-week window before sweepi ...Read More >
Mumbai, Jul 10 (PTI) The rupee pared initial gains and settled for the day higher by 4 paise at 85.69 (provisional) against the US dollar on Thursday, supported by US-India trade deal optimism, even as domestic equity markets were closed in the negative territory. Forex traders said the Indian rupee ended the day in green against the US dollar amid firm expectations that India and the US will reach a deal soon. At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened on a positive note at 85.62 against the US dollar, and traded in a range of 85.69 and 85.53 during the day. The local unit finally ...Read More >
The U.S. dollar continued its strong run on Monday, bolstered by soaring Treasury yields and expectations of limited Federal Reserve rate cuts. Meanwhile, the yen steadied ahead of a key speech by Bank of Japan Governor Kazuo Ueda, where he may hint at a possible rate hike in December, with markets pricing a 55% chance of such a move. Japanese Finance Minister Katsunobu Kato's warning on yen intervention caused a temporary pullback, while the dollar index touched a one-year high of 107.07. Analysts forecast further dollar gains as U.S. economic policies and performance outshine global peers. K ...Read More >
New Delhi, May 26 (PTI) Alcoholic beverage maker's body CIABC has urged the government to adopt a phased reduction in import duties on liquor products under the proposed India-EU free trade agreement (FTA), while calling for strong safeguards to prevent misuse of trade concessions under the pact. In a submission to the commerce ministry, Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC) has proposed slashing the effective customs (or import) duty on bottled products like wines and spirits from the current 150 per cent to 100 per cent immediately and then down to a resting customs d ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], May 29 (ANI): After a federal court of the United States struck down a reciprocal tariff announced by US President Donald Trump, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said that India should proceed cautiously in its ongoing Free Trade Agreement (FTA) negotiations with the US. A Manhattan-based federal court on May 28 struck down Trump's move to impose reciprocal tariffs on the trading partners of the US and ruled that he can't use emergency power to impose tariffs on foreign countries; it has to come from Congress. The order of the court determined that the tariffs, ...Read More >
NEW DELHI: New Delhi has proposed retaliatory duties against the United States at the World Trade Organization (WTO), saying Washington's 25 per cent tariff on automobiles and some auto parts would affect US$2.89 billion of India's exports, according to an official notification. "India reserves the right to suspend concessions or other obligations ... that are substantially equivalent to the adverse effects of the measure to India's trade," the statement said. According to the notification, the duty collected by the US would amount to US$725 million, and New Delhi will impose an "equivalent ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jul 5 (PTI) Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said India negotiates from a position of strength and not under deadlines. He accused the Congress of "negotiating and signing agreements that were not in the national interest" during the UPA government's tenure. His remarks come a day after Goyal stated that India would accept a proposed trade deal with the US only when it is fully finalised and in the national interest. Speaking to reporters here, Goyal said, "India does not negotiate under deadlines. We negotiate keeping national interest in mind, and national inter ...Read More >
Bengaluru, Jul 5 (PTI) With the Congress mocking the BJP-led NDA government over the proposed trade deal with the US, Union minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said India negotiates from a position of strength and not under deadlines. He also accused the Congress of "negotiating and signing agreements that were not in the national interest" during that party-led UPA government's tenure. Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi had attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the Indo-US trade deal, claiming the PM will "meekly bow" to the tariff deadline set by President Trump adminis ...Read More >
New Delhi, July 10 (SocialNews.XYZ) Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said he had a productive meeting with Tzafrul Aziz, Malaysian Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry, during which he discussed the ongoing review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement (AITIGA). "Looking forward to fast-tracking discussions with ASEAN member states to ensure fair trade and balanced growth," Piyush Goyal said in a post on X. "We also held discussions on the Comprehensive Economic Cooperation Agreement (CECA) between both countries," the minister further stated. Malaysia is India's perman ...Read More >
NEW DELHI, June 5 (Reuters) - Indian and U.S. are holding high-level talks this week, aiming to finalise tariff cuts in sectors such as farm and automobiles as part of an interim deal, two government sources said, with an announcement likely later this month. A U.S. delegation led by senior officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) began closed-door, two-day discussions in New Delhi on Thursday with Indian trade officials headed by chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal ...Read More >
India must ensure any trade deal with the U.S. is fair, not politically driven, and protects its farmers, digital ecosystem, and regulatory sovereignty, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said on Friday. With India's chief negotiator in Washington and a July 9 deadline approaching (marking the end of U.S. President Donald Trump's 90-day tariff suspension), a limited mini-deal appears likely.Any trade agreement with the US must not be politically driven or one-sided and India should protect its farmers, digital ecosystem, and policy space, economic think tank GTRI said on Friday. With ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 1 (ANI): Union Minister of State for Textiles and External Affairs Pabitra Margherita inaugurated the 73rd edition of India International Garment Fair (IIGF) on Tuesday. The inauguration took place in the presence of Chairman AEPC Sudhir Sekhri, prominent industry leaders and a large number of international buyers and exhibitors. Delivering his inaugural address, Margherita said, '73rd edition of the India International Garment Fair (IIGF) is Asia's largest and most dynamic garment fair. This fair is not just a showcase of fabrics and fashion; it is a celebration of t ...Read More >
India prioritizes mutual benefits and national interests over deadlines in trade agreements, according to Minister Piyush Goyal. He emphasized fairness and a win-win approach, especially with the US, amidst looming reciprocal tariffs. While negotiations continue with the US, EU, and other nations, India remains firm on securing favorable terms before finalizing any deals.Days ahead of the US' July 9 deadline for reciprocal tariffs, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal on Friday said India ...Read More >
New Delhi, Dec 12 (PTI) India should remain open to investments from China as other developed countries like the US and Germany, with the exception of a handful of sectors, 16th Finance Commission Chairman Arvind Panagariya said on Thursday. He also cautioned that one has to be careful about investments from potentially "unfriendly countries" that might damage the interest of the nation. However, developed countries are accepting investments from China in any particular sector, India can also welcome such investments. "If the US is taking investment from China, if Germany is taking, I would ...Read More >
New Delhi, June 6: Indian and U.S. officials engaged in high-level trade negotiations here to arrive at an interim deal on tariff cuts, ahead of the July 9 deadline, have decided to extend their ongoing talks into next week, according to a senior official. India's negotiating team, headed by Additional Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, has held talks over two days with senior officials from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR), who arrived in Delhi for weekend talks. "The two countries are actively engaged in focused discussions to facilitate greater market access, reduce tari ...Read More >
New Delhi: British Foreign Secretary David Lammy will pay a two-day visit to India beginning Saturday to review bilateral ties in areas of trade as well as defence and security. Lammy will hold wide-ranging talks with his Indian counterpart S Jaishankar, and is scheduled to call on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, officials said on Friday. The British foreign secretary will also meet Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal. Lammy's visit to New Delhi comes over a month after the two countries finalised an ambitious free trade agreement (FTA). It is learnt that his visit is also expected to focus on prepa ...Read More >
New Delhi: US President Donald Trump abruptly froze trade talks with Canada this week because Ottawa plans to begin collecting a digital tax from big technology companies, including American giants like Google, Amazon, Meta and Uber. Trump did not hold back. In a post on his Truth Social platform, he called the tax a "direct and blatant attack on our country". He said the United States would respond within days with fresh tariffs on Canadian goods. The move did not come out of nowhere. Quietly passed in June 2024, the Canadian law charges a 3% levy on digital services revenue earned from Can ...Read More >
New Delhi [India], July 3 (ANI): A new trade agreement between the United States and Vietnam is raising concerns and offering key lessons for India, especially for Indian exporters who see Vietnam as both a competitor and a partner in regional value chains, according to a report by the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI). The report highlighted that despite a historic trade agreement signed in 2000 that allowed Vietnamese goods to enter the US at concessional tariffs of 2 to 10 per cent, the new deal imposes a flat 20 per cent tariff on all Vietnamese exports to the U.S. Also Read | Is S ...Read More >
New Delhi: Global ratings agency Moody's Ratings on Thursday said that India may be subject to lower tariffs than many countries in the Asia Pacific, which could help the economy attract further investment and become a global manufacturing base. India is expected to be in a good position with reduced tariffs in the coming days though many export-reliant Asia Pacific economies were hit with very high US tariffs in April. In its outlook on Asia Pacific sovereigns, Moody's Ratings said while negotiations will likely lead to some reduction in tariffs and other trade barriers on a bilateral basis, ...Read More >
New Delhi: India on Friday proposed imposing retaliatory duties against the US over American tariffs on automobile sector at WTO (World Trade Organisation). "The proposed suspension of concessions or other obligations would take the form of an increase in tariffs on selected products originating in the United States," according to a notification of the WTO. ...Read More >