While countries and companies in the world await the announcement by the United States on the deduction of reciprocal prices from April 2, a report from the office of the American commercial representative reported several price and non-tariff barriers that India takes from imports.
The report on the estimation of the national trade of 2025 (NTE) published by the USTR on March 31, stressed that the price applied most favored by India (MFN) was 17% in 2023, which was the highest of all major global economies, with an average applied rate rate of 13.5% for non -agricultural goods and 39% for agricultural goods.
The annual report, which assesses the business policies of countries around the world and how they have an impact on exports, investments and digital trade in the United States, includes approximately 15 pages on India policies and has raised problems linked to the location of data, the equalization levy, the portable computers’ import policies, the subsidies, a lack of transparency. In all, it covers 59 countries, including Australia, Bangaldesh, Canada, China and the EU outside India.
“Most of the problems are a repetition of previous reports. Little have been resolved and are no longer relevant,” noted a Global Trade Research Initiative analysis.
One of the main problems on the rates that the United States has raised concern the high import duties of India, in particular on agricultural products. For example, India has 150% on alcoholic beverages and 100% on nuts and raisins. The United States says it makes it difficult for its property to compete.
“India maintains various forms of non -tariff barriers: prohibited or prohibited items that are entered into India (example, tallow, fat and oils of animal origin); Articles that require a non-automatic import license (example, certain cattle, pharmaceutical, monopolistic products and are chemicals and products of information technology) and imprisonment articles only by CORN government exchanges under a tariff rate quota) “, he noted.
He also highlighted the problems concerning restrictions on foreign direct investments in trade and retail banks as well as obstacles and unequal playing field for insurance companies by offering a sovereign guarantee for the fonts given by the Life Insurance of India. The report also reported closings on the Internet in India, noting that they disrupt American services and the digital economy.
The report is also important because India and the United States are working on a bilateral trade agreement and hope to finish the first tranche by the fall of 2025. Although it is planned that prices problems can be addressed in the first tranche of the commercial pact, several non-tariff obstacles can be addressed in subsequent talks.
“While the United States continues to put pressure on India to modify its commercial policies to serve American commercial interests, India must firmly assess each request through the objective of its own national priorities, development objectives and cultural values. Many risks offered – in fields such as agriculture, digital governance and public health – have rooted social standards of India to protect its digital future.
A PWC report noted that the evolution of American trade policies, including pricing and other measures, obliges Indian companies to develop a long -term resilience strategy. The framework of ideas – to invest, diversify, express and remain aware – provides a structured approach to navigate in trade uncertainties and take advantage of emerging opportunities, it pleaded.
