New Delhi me huve ek crucial baithak ne India US Trade relations ko nayi direction di hai. Commerce and Industry Ministry ne confirm kiya ke poore din chalne wale talks “positive aur forward-looking” rahe. Dono sides ne mutually beneficial trade deal ke liye efforts ko fast karne par agree kiya hai.
Baithak me US delegation ki agwai chief negotiator Brendan Lynch ne ki, jabke Indian team ko lead kiya Special Secretary Rajesh Agarwal ne. Ye talks Vanijya Bhawan me subah 10 baje shuru hue aur shaam tak chale.
Background: Tariffs aur Tensions
India US Trade talks ko pause kar diya gaya tha jab US ne August 27 se India par additional 25% tariffs impose kiye the, mainly Russian oil purchase ke issue par. Iske pehle bhi US ne 25% reciprocal duty lagayi thi, jisne bilateral trade ko aur complicate kar diya.
Indian officials ka kehna hai ke US ne trade ke sath non-trade issues jod kar unnecessary pressure create kiya. Lekin ab dono taraf se reconciliatory signals aa rahe hain.
Sources ke mutabiq ek possible solution ye ho sakta hai ke India, Russia se imports maintain karte hue US se energy imports badhaye, jisse ek balance create ho.
India ke Red Lines Clear
India ne apne stance ko clear kar diya hai — agriculture aur dairy sector ko compromise nahi kiya ja sakta. Ye livelihood ka issue hai for over 700 million farmers, cattle keepers aur fisherfolk.
New Delhi-based think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) ke founder Ajay Srivastava ka kehna hai:
“Trade deal me koi bhi progress tabhi hogi jab Washington oil-linked 25% duty rollback kare. Agriculture aur dairy par India koi compromise nahi karega, lekin US industrial exports par tariff cuts possible hain — agar India ki red lines respect ki jayein.”
Exporters ki Concern
Indian exporters ki demand hai ke sarkar jaldi se jaldi trade deal sign kare, warna delay se US market me losses badh sakte hain. Lekin unhone bhi ye emphasize kiya ke red lines par compromise nahi hona chahiye.
Commerce Ministry officials ke mutabiq Tuesday ki baithak ye decide karegi ki aage ki negotiations kis direction me jaengi.
Sensitive Areas Under Discussion
US ki taraf se demand hai ke India apne patent rules ease kare, unfettered data flows allow kare, e-commerce platforms khole, aur US firms ko procurement access de. Ye sab highly sensitive issues hain jahan India ko carefully step lena hoga.
Srivastava ne warn kiya:
“Even agar India Russian oil kharidna bandh bhi kar de, iski guarantee nahi ke US tariffs turant remove karega. Negotiations tabhi tez hongi jab Washington flexibility dikhaye.”
Political Dimension: Modi-Trump Statements
Pichle hafte US President Donald Trump ne kaha tha ke India aur America “continuing negotiations” me hain aur unhe full confidence hai ke trade barriers resolve ho jayenge.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi ne respond karte hue kaha ke dono desh “natural partners” hain aur ek “brighter aur prosperous future” ke liye kaam karenge.
Modi ne apne Independence Day speech me bhi emphasize kiya tha ke Indian farmers, fisherfolk aur cattle keepers ki well-being compromise nahi hogi.
Russia Oil Issue Aur Global Pressure
US ne G7 countries ko bhi pressurize kiya hai ke wo Russia oil buyers par sanctions ko aur tough kare. China aur India dono Russia ke top buyers hain.
Lekin India ne apna stance clear rakha hai. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman ne kaha tha ke “economic aur commercial considerations hi hamare oil purchase decisions drive karte hain.” India, jo world’s third-largest crude consumer hai, apni 88% requirement imports se poori karta hai.
Kya Aage Hoga?
- Sixth round of India US Trade talks jald launch hone ki expected hai.
- Key issue remain karte hain: US tariffs rollback, agriculture protection, energy imports aur e-commerce regulations.
- Dono taraf se “positive signals” aaye hain, lekin ground reality ye hai ke negotiations long haul me jaa sakti hain.
India ke exporters aur industry experts ki expectation hai ke government ek balanced deal sign kare jo trade opportunities ko expand kare lekin Indian farmers aur key sectors ke interests ko compromise na kare.
