India should remain highly cautious about offering duty concessions to the United States on agricultural commodities or genetically modified (GMO) products, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said on Wednesday. The think tank emphasised that New Delhi must avoid making any binding commitments until the US Supreme Court delivers its verdict on former President Donald Trump’s tariff authority — a ruling that could significantly reshape the contours of the ongoing negotiations.
India and the US are currently working toward a bilateral trade agreement, with a US delegation in New Delhi for two days of discussions beginning Wednesday.
GTRI: US Must Cut Punitive Tariffs First
GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said that if Washington is genuinely committed to strengthening economic partnership, it should begin by slashing its punitive tariff on Indian goods from 50% to 25%. He noted that the original justification for these duties — the Russian oil dispute — has already been resolved and therefore no longer holds ground.
US Trade Representative: India a Tough Market, but Offers Are Improving
While briefing the US Senate, US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer acknowledged that US negotiators are currently in New Delhi to advance the proposed bilateral agreement. Greer described India as “a very difficult nut to crack” for US exporters, particularly for certain row crops and meat products. However, he noted that India has recently been “quite forward-leaning,” and that the proposals on the table represent “the best we’ve ever received as a country,” positioning India as an increasingly attractive export destination.
Row crops refer to major agricultural commodities grown in mechanised rows and widely traded internationally — including corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, sorghum, barley and canola. These products are politically sensitive in India, given their ties to farmer livelihoods and national food security.
Talks Tilted Toward US Interests, Says GTRI
Srivastava pointed out that USTR’s testimony reveals only what the United States wants from India, with little visibility into what Washington is willing to offer in return.
“The conversation so far is heavily tilted toward opening India’s markets for US farm products and biofuels, with little clarity on market access for Indian exports,” Srivastava said.
He stressed that India must prioritise balance instead of optics in the negotiations and should be extremely cautious about offering concessions on agricultural goods or genetically modified crops.
Awaiting the Supreme Court Verdict Before Making Commitments
According to GTRI, the outcome of the US Supreme Court case evaluating Trump’s tariff authority will be crucial. A ruling could dramatically alter the US administration’s power to impose or remove tariffs — potentially rewriting the entire negotiating landscape “overnight.”
Therefore, GTRI argues that India should refrain from making any long-term commitments until legal clarity emerges.