Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Sunday dismissed criticism about India conceding more to the United States by agreeing to an 18% tariff, asserting that the move would help Indian goods gain a competitive edge, according to a PTI interview. Goyal said India was negotiating trade agreements from a "position of strength", highlighting that Indian exports would face lower tariffs than those from China, which is subject to a 35% tariff, and other countries facing duties of 19% and above.Speaking to PTI in his first interview after India and US reached a tariff agreement seen as a precursor to a broader bilateral trade agreement, Goyal said India today enters trade talks with confidence as a $4 trillion economy. “I start negotiations by saying we are a $4 trillion economy today, but we are going to be a $30–35 trillion economy by 2047 when we become a developed nation. That is the future market we offer,” he said, describing this growth trajectory as India’s core negotiating strength.Also Read: India-U.S. trade deal seen boosting aerospace sourcing, aircraft ordersThe minister further said India’s free trade agreement negotiations are guided by caution, respect for partners’ sensitivities and strong personal engagement with negotiators. He said he had met every negotiator involved in India’s nine trade agreements, underlining that rapport-building often helps unlock additional benefits, particularly when trade-offs are required. “What we do in an FTA affects the nation and our people for decades to come,” Goyal said.On the India-European Union free trade agreement, Goyal credited Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s close engagement with global leaders for its broad acceptance across Europe. He said the impact of every decision was carefully assessed across the economies of all 27 EU member states, adding that the India-EU FTA had seen no negative reaction across the bloc, unlike another EU trade agreement signed in 2019 that continues to face implementation challenges.Offering a glimpse into the behind-the-scenes dynamics of trade talks, Goyal described negotiations as a high-stakes exercise requiring foresight, lateral thinking and composure. Also Read: From wine to walnuts: India–US trade deal set to make American imports cheaperWhile maintaining calm is essential, he said, there are moments when showing temper can be used strategically. He credited guidance from Prime Minister Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and cabinet colleagues, as well as support from the Prime Minister’s Office and the Cabinet Secretary, for enabling a whole-of-government approach to negotiations.— PTI_News (@PTI_News) Goyal said none of the nine trade agreements signed so far had compromised national interest, with public good remaining central to India’s negotiating strategy. He added that all agreements were fair and balanced, and in cases involving smaller economies where concessions were not adequately matched, India supplemented deals with additional inputs to ensure equity.
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