India Says It Remains Engaged With U.S. on Section 301 Proceedings, Trade Talks

NEW DELHI — India remains engaged with the United States on Section 301 proceedings announced by Washington while continuing parallel talks to finalize a framework agreement on bilateral trade, the Commerce Ministry said Wednesday.

The ministry said the engagement is taking place in line with an announcement made Feb. 2 and a joint statement released Feb. 7 on the proposed India-U.S. trade framework.

According to the ministry, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative has concluded investigations involving 60 economies, including India, over measures those economies have taken to prevent the import of certain goods.

Following the investigations, USTR has proposed additional tariffs on imports from the 60 economies under Section 301 of the U.S. Trade Act of 1974. The Commerce Ministry said products already covered under Section 232 tariffs, along with certain other goods, have been excluded from the proposed tariff measures.

A special mechanism has also been proposed for textile and apparel products, which could allow a certain volume of imports from selected economies to enter the United States at lower tariff rates.

The ministry said the proposed tariffs are not final. Stakeholders may submit requests to participate in public hearings by June 22, 2026, while written comments may be filed until July 6, 2026. Public hearings are scheduled for July 7, after which USTR will consider the comments and testimony before making a final decision.

Senior officials from India and the United States are holding a three-day round of talks in New Delhi to finalize an interim bilateral trade agreement that is expected to lead to tariff reductions.

The Feb. 7 joint statement between the two countries established the framework for an interim trade agreement aimed at achieving mutually beneficial and reciprocal trade, while also committing both sides to broader Bilateral Trade Agreement negotiations.

U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor recently said the United States looks forward to completing the details of a new bilateral trade agreement with India that would expand market access, reduce trade barriers and provide greater certainty for businesses in both countries. (Source: IANS)