India will not be rushed into finalizing a trade agreement under pressure, nor will it negotiate “at gunpoint,” said Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, following US President Donald Trump’s decision to pause reciprocal tariffs on India for 90 days. The temporary relief is widely seen as a window to fast-track a bilateral trade deal between the two countries.
“We never negotiate at gunpoint. Favourable time constraints motivate us for quicker talks, but till the time we are not able to secure the interest of our country and our people, we do not hurry (into any deal),” Goyal said at the Italy-India Business, Science, and Technology Forum.
Stressing that India will always come first, the minister added that the government will pursue agreements that align with the broader national interest. “We will always put India first and will ensure that a deal is finalised keeping that sentiment in mind,” he stated.
Trade Talks with US, EU, and Others Progressing
Goyal also provided updates on India’s broader trade strategy, saying discussions are underway not just with the United States, but also the UK, European Union, and several other global partners. “All our trade talks are progressing well, in the spirit of India First, and to ensure our pathway to Viksit Bharat by 2047 in the Amrit Kaal,” he added, without disclosing specific timelines or deal terms.
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The minister emphasized that successful trade negotiations require mutual sensitivity to each other’s concerns and requirements.
Jaishankar Acknowledges High-Stakes Talks With US
At the Carnegie Global Technology Summit, External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar echoed Goyal’s cautious optimism. Acknowledging the high-pressure environment following Trump’s tariff move, Jaishankar said India is geared up for urgent trade negotiations, particularly with the US. “This time around, we are certainly geared up for a very high degree of urgency. I mean, we see a window. We want to see stuff. So, our trade deals are really challenging,” Jaishankar said.
He noted that Washington’s evolving global posture has added complexity to the ongoing talks. “The US has been very ambitious… The global landscape is very different now, from what it was a year ago,” he observed.
Jaishankar also commented on the lessons learned during earlier negotiations with the Trump administration. “We talked for four years during the first Trump administration. They have their view of us, and frankly, we have our view of them. The bottom line is that they didn’t get that.”
EU Talks Continue, China Also a Key Player
Commenting on trade talks with the European Union, Jaishankar acknowledged the lengthy nature of those negotiations. “Often people say we’ve been negotiating for 30 years, which is not entirely true because we had big blocks of time and nobody was even talking to each other,” he said.
Jaishankar further emphasized that China’s economic policies continue to significantly impact the global trade landscape, on par with the United States. “China’s decisions are just as consequential as those of the US when it comes to the global marketplace,” he said, noting that trade and technology are central to the US-China dynamic.
As global power centers shift and trade tensions evolve, India maintains a cautious yet firm stance, aiming to protect national interests while navigating high-stakes international negotiations.
