Tariff cut by US augurs well for Indian exports: Sitharaman

04 Feb 2026 Evaluate

After US President Donald Trump's decision to slash tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman has expressed optimism that this move is a positive development for India as it will boost exports along with having found new markets where they will continue to operate. 

On Monday, Trump agreed to slash US tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent in exchange for India lowering trade barriers as well as stopping its purchases of Russian oil and instead buying oil from the US and potentially Venezuela. On implementation, the deal would bring tariffs on India in line with most other Asian countries of around 15-19 per cent.

Sitharaman said while the details of the agreement will be announced soon, the cut in tariffs is a ‘good auguring’ for exporters. She said taken together with the new markets exporters had tapped after becoming uncompetitive in the US, the ‘exports will pick up now’.

Trump's steep tariffs last year dented Indian exports by raising landed costs, squeezing exporter margins, and eroding competitiveness in the American market. Sectors such as steel, aluminium, textiles, engineering goods and some agricultural products were hit as higher duties led US buyers to shift orders to alternative suppliers.

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