Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) President Mayawati expressed caution regarding the India-US trade deal, highlighting the need for a thorough evaluation of its actual effects before drawing conclusions. She emphasized the complexity of the trade agreements between the two countries and the challenges in assessing the benefits of the 18 per cent tariff imposed by the US. Mayawati stated that the true measure of the decision’s success would be seen in its implementation and impact on various sections of society, especially the economically vulnerable.
Trade negotiations between India and the US have been ongoing, with US President Donald Trump announcing a reduction in tariffs on Indian goods from 50 per cent to 18 per cent. This announcement coincided with India’s Budget Session of Parliament. While the Indian government welcomed the tariff reduction as a positive development benefiting trade and industry, opposition parties, including the Congress, have raised concerns about transparency in the negotiations and the long-term implications of the agreement.
