Parliament Question: Heavy Taxes on Import from India

GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4105 ANSWERED ON 17/03/2026 HEAVY TAXES ON IMPORT FROM INDIA 4105. SHRI T R BAALU: Will the Minister of COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्री) be pleased to state: (a) whether the Government has made assessment of United States on imposing heavy taxes on Imports from India and if so, the details thereof; (b) whether such high tariffs are in violation of WTO and other UN ratified agreements on tariff and trade, the retaliatory and remedial steps taken by the Government and if so, the details thereof; and (c) whether US Government's new taxes are going to tilt our balance of trade heavily, if so, the details thereof along with compensatory measures to increase our exports being taken? ANSWER वाणिज्य एवं उद्योग मंत्रालय में राज्यमंत्री (श्री णिणिन प्रसाद) THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY (SHRI JITIN PRASADA) (a) & (c) Government has been assessing all the developments and remains engaged with the Government of the United States (U.S.). India and the U.S. announced a trade deal on 2nd February 2026. A Joint Statement for the same was released on 7th February 2026. On 7th February 2026, 25% additional ad valorem tariffs imposed by the U.S. on certain India’s exports citing India’s imports of Russian oil were removed. Pursuant to the U.S. Supreme Court judgement dated 20th February 2026 invalidating reciprocal tariffs, the reciprocal tariffs are no longer in force. The US Government has issued Executive Orders imposing 10% tariffs on certain products from all countries. Further information regarding the interim trade deal is also available at the following web link: https://www.commerce.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/FTAs- achievement.pdf (b) As an affected member with significant export interest to the U.S. in the products concerned, India requested consultations with the United States under Article 12.3 of the WTO Agreement on Safeguards. As consultations did not take place, India notified the WTO Council for Trade in Goods and the Committee on Safeguards that it reserves rights for suspension of concessions under Article 8 of the Agreement on Safeguards. *****