live Asia
India vows to avoid protectionist signals on trade
Indian Secretary at the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Tuhin Kanta Pandey, poses for a photograph after his interview with Reuters at his office in New Delhi, India, on Feb 3, 2023. (Photo: REUTERS/Nikunj Ohri)
This audio is generated by an AI tool.
NEW DELHI: India does not want to give any signal that it is protectionist, the top bureaucrat in the finance ministry said, after slashing import duties on high-end motorcycles, amid US President Donald Trump's moves on tariffs.
Sunday's remarks came a day after Trump ignited a trade war with sweeping tariffs on Canada, Mexico and China. None were aimed at India, although Trump had called it a tariff abuser during his election campaign last year.
"We don't want to give anybody any signal that we would like to be protectionist," Finance Secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey told Reuters. "Our stance is that we don't want to increase protection."
Trade and immigration issues will take centre-stage when Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meets Trump this month.
India has been trying to placate the Trump administration after it accused the South Asian nation of maintaining very high tariffs that hurt prospects for American firms.
