India-US Trade Deal: Tariffs Cut to 18%, Industry Leaders Hail Historic Agreement

• US President Donald Trump announced a trade deal with India, reducing reciprocal tariffs on Indian goods from 25% to 18% after a call with PM Narendra Modi.
• PM Modi expressed delight, stating the reduced tariffs will benefit "Made in India" products and unlock immense opportunities for cooperation between the two largest democracies.
• Industry leaders like Kumar Mangalam Birla (Aditya Birla Group), Harsh Goenka (RPG Enterprises), Anant Goenka (FICCI), and Dr. Anish Shah (Mahindra Group) welcomed the deal, highlighting its potential to strengthen economic ties, boost exports, and create resilient supply chains.
• Union Ministers Ashwini Vaishnaw and Piyush Goyal emphasized the deal as a "win-win" for both nations, fostering shared prosperity, co-creation of technologies, and global peace.
• The agreement is seen as a significant step towards a comprehensive US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement, with labor-intensive sectors like apparel, leather, gems, and marine products expected to benefit significantly.

Why It Matters: India and the US finalized a trade deal, cutting tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, boosting economic ties and exports.