NEW DELHI — As India prepares to engage in high-stakes trade negotiations with the Donald Trump administration, policy analysts, exporters, and agricultural bodies have strongly urged the Indian government to adopt a cautious, "national interest first" strategy.
Warning against making unreciprocated concessions, experts pointed to Canada's recent struggles with Washington as a clear precedent of how rapidly new tariff demands can destabilize established trade partnerships.
Ajay Srivastava, founder of the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI), highlighted Canada’s experience as a critical warning sign for New Delhi. He emphasized that India must secure legally binding, durable, and clear tariff relief before opening up sensitive domestic sectors such as agriculture, digital regulations, critical minerals, or government procurement.
"An agreement that merely reduces some US tariffs while leaving Washington free to impose fresh duties under Sections 232, 301, or other domestic laws would offer little real certainty," Srivastava noted. He stressed that India should firmly preserve its strategic and regulatory autonomy, conceding ground only when concessions are fully balanced, enforceable, and protected against future unilateral trade actions.
Echoing these concerns, Pankaj Chadha, Chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), advised Indian negotiators to remain vigilant given President Trump’s unpredictable diplomatic and bargaining style. Pointing to how even long-standing allies like Canada faced persistent duties on steel, aluminum, and automotive products despite existing trade pacts like USMCA, Chadha argued that protecting domestic industry must remain India's primary guidepost.
Agricultural leaders have expressed similar apprehension over the changing dynamics of global trade. P. Krishna Prasad, a member of the Coordination Committee of the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM), remarked that the global trade architecture governed by the World Trade Organization (WTO) is undergoing a structural crisis as major economies lean heavily into protectionism.
"The United States is increasingly restricting market entry, raising tariffs, and protecting its own domestic industries," Prasad said. He called on New Delhi to reassess its strategic position within the international market, urging policies that proactively shield Indian farmers, domestic workers, and local industries from foreign market shocks and corporate dominance.
With trade discussions on the horizon, stakeholders across the economic spectrum agree that New Delhi must insist on equitable terms, ensuring that any final deal provides long-term stability rather than temporary tariff reprieves.
