The United States and India have announced a framework for an Interim Agreement on reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade, marking a significant step toward advancing the broader US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations launched by President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in February 2025, a joint statement released by the White House and Commerce Ministry stated. The Interim Agreement between the United States and India will represent a historic milestone in our countries' partnership, demonstrating a common commitment to reciprocal and balanced trade based on mutual interests and concrete outcomes, the statement mentioned.
Meanwhile in a separate statement, announcing the elimination of the additional tariffs imposed on India for purchase of Russian Oil the White House confirmed that India had agreed to stop importing Russian Oil "India has committed to stop directly or indirectly importing Russian Federation oil, has represented that it will purchase United States energy products from the United States, and has recently committed to a framework with the United States to expand defense cooperation over the next 10 years," the White House said.
"Effective with respect to goods entered for consumption, or withdrawn from the warehouse for consumption, on or after 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on February 7, 2026, products of India imported into the United States shall no longer be subject to the additional ad valorem rate of duty of 25 percent imposed pursuant to Executive
Order 14329. Accordingly, effective 12:01 a.m. eastern standard time on February 7, 2026, headings 9903.01.84 through 9903.01.89 and subdivision (z) of U.S. Note 2 to subchapter III of chapter 99 of the Harmonized Tariff Schedule of the United States are hereby terminated. To the extent that implementation of this order requires a refund of duties collected, refunds shall be processed pursuant to applicable law and the standard procedures of U.S. Customs and Border Protection for such refunds," it further underlined.
According to the Joint Statement, the United States will, in turn, apply a reciprocal tariff of 18 per cent on Indian-origin goods under the relevant executive order, covering sectors such as textiles and apparel, leather and footwear, plastics and rubber, organic chemicals, home decor, artisanal products, and certain machinery. "Subject to the successful conclusion of the Interim Agreement, the US will remove reciprocal tariffs on a wide range of goods, including generic pharmaceuticals, gems and diamonds, and aircraft parts."
The framework also provides for the removal of US tariffs on certain Indian aircraft and aircraft parts imposed under national security-related proclamations on aluminium, steel and copper. India will receive a preferential tariff rate quota for automotive parts, consistent with US national security requirements. Depending on the outcome of a US Section 232 investigation, India is also set to receive negotiated outcomes for generic pharmaceuticals and pharmaceutical ingredients, the statement mentioned.
Newsinc24 Team





Related Items
The unpaid internship Is breaking India’s middle-class promise
India and Mongolia are strategic partners, spiritual siblings: Jaishankar
Pakistan threatens India over Indus Waters Treaty