India is urging the United States to reduce import duties on key labour-intensive exports, including textiles, leather goods and footwear, as part of its ongoing trade negotiations.
High U.S. tariffs – some reportedly as high as 48% – have long been a barrier to market access for these sectors, Indian officials said. They argue that lowering these duties would enhance the global competitiveness of its products and help generate further growth in these industries.
Indian representatives have also raised concerns related to delays in pharmaceutical licensing, challenges in securing U.S. visas for skilled professionals and data governance issues in digital commerce.
In response, the United States is seeking improved access to India’s agricultural markets, expedited regulatory approvals for medical products and stronger commitments around digital trade and data standards.
The renewed talks follow years of strained trade relations, exacerbated by tariff hikes and India’s removal from the U.S. Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) programme in 2019.
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