India seeks to offset Trump tariffs by negotiating bilateral pacts

India seeks to offset Trump tariffs by negotiating bilateral pacts India seeks to offset Trump tariffs by negotiating bilateral pacts

NEW DELHI — India has stepped up efforts to strike trade deals with other countries in an apparent bid to minimize the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump’s looming tariffs, even as New Delhi and Washington are finalizing the framework for a “mutually beneficial” bilateral trade pact.

Ahead of Trump’s April 2 deadline to impose reciprocal tariffs on countries, Brendan Lynch, assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, and other American officials are in India on a five-day visit through Saturday for meetings with Indian counterparts as part of ongoing trade talks.