US Trade Deal: ‘India is a Difficult Nut to Crack’, Admits US! New Delhi Looks to Supreme Court Regarding 50 Percent Tariff

US Trade Deal: The speculation surrounding a long-term trade deal between the United States and India shows no signs of ending. Recently, a comment by the United States Trade Representative (USTR) has caused quite a stir across social media and international news outlets. US officials have been forced to admit that negotiating a deal with India on their terms is far from an easy task. In their words, “India is a very difficult nut to crack.” This implies that the US cannot simply pressure India into accepting its conditions. India’s firm stance in global politics is currently a major topic of discussion.

Main Hurdles in the Trade Deal and US Claims

The US claims to have offered India the “Best Ever Offer.” However, New Delhi refuses to take the bait. The primary reason behind this is the agricultural sector. The US wants unrestricted access for its agricultural products and corporate farms into India’s vast market. However, the Indian government has clearly stated that Indian marginal farmers cannot be compared with US farmers who receive massive government subsidies and have advanced infrastructure. Therefore, opening up the agricultural market by pushing Indian farmers into unfair competition is not possible. The Trump administration remains adamant that there will be no agreement unless they get the deal they desire.

Tariff Policy and the Role of the Supreme Court

Currently, the Donald Trump administration has imposed a tariff of nearly 50 percent on India, leading to a cold war of sorts between the two nations. However, India holds a major trump card here. India has adopted a policy of “Patiently Wait” rather than rushing into anything.

• Supreme Court Verdict: A case regarding the legality of Trump’s tariff policy is pending in the US Supreme Court. The court will soon decide whether these additional tariffs are legal or not.
• India’s Gain: If the court declares these tariffs illegal, they will automatically drop to around 20 percent. In that scenario, India would secure a significant victory without signing any new deal. Experts are calling this the “Do Nothing, Still Win” strategy.

Criticism of Trump’s Foreign Policy

Trump’s India policy is facing criticism on US soil itself. Members of the ‘House Foreign Affairs Committee’ have termed Trump’s move as a “Failed Foreign Policy.” According to them, Trump has damaged relations with a strategic partner like India due to his personal ‘Obsession’ with the Nobel Peace Prize. US lawmakers themselves are surprised that while a country like Pakistan faces only a 19 percent tariff, India is subjected to a 50 percent tariff. Due to this policy, no fruitful meeting between the heads of state of the two countries has been possible in the last few years.