Trump 2.0 Tariffs Push India to Diversify Trade, Seek New Global Partners

• India-US economic relations soured in Trump's second term, facing steep US tariffs despite initial optimism for a pragmatic partnership.
• The US imposed 50% tariffs on India, higher than on China, citing trade imbalances and market access issues, impacting bilateral ties.
• India recalibrated its trade strategy, diversifying export markets to West Asia, Africa, Europe, and China, showing resilience in December export data.
• Exports to China surged 67% to $2 billion in December, while shipments to the US, India's largest market, dropped 1.8% to $6.8 billion.
• India is actively pursuing new trade agreements with UAE, Australia, Oman, UK, and accelerating talks with the EU, positioning itself as an autonomous trading power.

Why It Matters: Trump 2.0's protectionist policies forced India to strategically diversify trade and forge new global partnerships.