India has postponed plans to send a trade delegation to Washington this week following the U.S. Supreme Court’s decision to overturn reciprocal tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump. The move comes amid uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariff policies after the court’s ruling, according to a source from India’s Ministry of Commerce on Sunday.
India’s decision marks one of the more concrete responses from Asian countries after the U.S. Supreme Court ruling. On Saturday, following the court’s decision, President Trump announced a 15 percent tariff on goods from nearly all countries. This rate represents the maximum limit under the trade law invoked for the measure.
Speaking on condition of anonymity due to the sensitivity of the matter, the Indian source said the decision to delay the visit was taken after discussions between officials from both countries. No new date has been set for the delegation’s trip. The source added that the uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariff policies following Friday’s court ruling was the primary reason for postponing the visit.
The Indian delegation had been scheduled to depart for Washington on Sunday. The visit was intended to finalize an interim trade agreement aimed at reducing a 25 percent punitive tariff imposed by Washington on certain Indian goods due to India’s purchase of energy from Russia.
Under the proposed agreement, U.S. tariffs on Indian goods were expected to be reduced to 18 percent. In return, India had agreed to purchase goods worth $500 billion from the United States over the next five years. These purchases were set to include energy, aircraft and spare parts, precious metals, and technology products.
India’s main opposition party, the Congress, had earlier called for suspending the interim deal. The party also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s decision to issue a joint statement with the United States regarding the agreement before the Supreme Court ruling. It urged the government to reopen negotiations with Washington.
On Saturday, India’s Ministry of Commerce stated that it is reviewing the implications of the Supreme Court’s decision and subsequent announcements by the U.S. administration.
Last week, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that if outstanding issues were resolved during the delegation’s visit to Washington, the interim agreement could take effect from April.
