New Delhi, Jul 8 (PTI) India may very well be among the many nations anticipated to finalise a commerce take care of the US quickly, as President Donald Trump steps up stress by issuing formal tariff letters to a number of nations, however New Delhi should tread rigorously, financial assume tank GTRI mentioned on Tuesday.
“Trump’s mannequin is not a free commerce settlement, it is a YATRA – Yielding to American Tariff Retaliation Settlement,” the World Commerce Analysis Initiative (GTRI) mentioned.
The US has prolonged the deadline for nations to finalise bilateral commerce offers with the US from July 9 to August 1, giving a last three-week window earlier than sweeping country-specific tariffs come into pressure, it added.
The extension is a part of a broader commerce offensive launched on April 2, when Trump recognized about 60 nations for particular tariffs until they signed new offers aligning with American commerce pursuits.
To this point, solely the UK and Vietnam have complied. A brief ceasefire take care of China can be in place.
“Now, Trump is escalating the stress. On July 7, he signed formal letters to 14 nations, outlining the tariffs they may face from August 1 in the event that they fail to conclude a deal,” GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava mentioned.
On Monday Trump-administration introduced 25 per cent tariffs on Japan, South Korea, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Tunisia; 30 per cent on South Africa, Bosnia and Herzegovina; 32 per cent on Indonesia; 35 per cent on Bangladesh, Serbia; 36 per cent Cambodia, Thailand; and 40 per cent tariffs on Laos, Myanmar.
Srivastava mentioned that these warnings, described by the White Home as ‘last notices’, depart nations with a stark option to signal a deal on US phrases or face punitive duties.
He added that the tariff hike is anticipated to disrupt commerce flows, improve shopper costs within the US, and trigger broader provide chain issues globally.
US imports from China had been down by 35 per cent in Might 2025 over the earlier interval.
“With the clock ticking, India is seen as a high candidate for a deal announcement within the coming days…However New Delhi should tread rigorously,” he mentioned.
With the US exhibiting willingness to override agreements and impose unilateral situations, for instance, on BRICS members, India should weigh the strategic worth of engagement towards the dangers of an imbalanced deal, he cautioned.
