India digests ‘unpalatable’ U.S. tariffs as it eyes key trade deal

India digests 'unpalatable' U.S. tariffs as it eyes key trade deal India digests 'unpalatable' U.S. tariffs as it eyes key trade deal

MUMBAI — Ongoing bilateral trade talks between India and the U.S. have become crucial to the South Asian nation after it was slapped with a 26% reciprocal tariff on Wednesday.

While India has escaped the kinds of eye-watering rates set to be applied to regional competitors such as Vietnam and Bangladesh, the tariffs, effective in full from next Wednesday, make a bilateral agreement crucial for New Delhi as it looks to cushion the impact on exports to the U.S. worth about $80 billion, s said.