S Jaishankar Stresses India’s ‘Red Lines’ in Ongoing US Trade Talks

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Saturday confirmed that India-US trade negotiations are still in progress, but made it clear that India will not cross certain boundaries. Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum 2025, he emphasized that protecting farmers and small producers remains a non-negotiable priority for the government.

“Negotiations are still going on in the sense that nobody said the negotiations are off. People do talk to each other. It is not like there’s a ‘kutti’ there,” Jaishankar remarked, using a colloquial expression to lighten the discussion.

He added, “Where we are concerned, the red lines are primarily the interests of our farmers and, to some extent, of our small producers… That’s not something we can compromise on.”

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Trade Talks in Focus

The comments come just days before additional US tariffs are set to hit Indian goods, raising stakes in bilateral talks. India, the world’s fifth-largest economy, has consistently resisted opening up its agriculture and dairy sectors, even as bilateral trade has already crossed $190 billion.

Market Insights & Key Takeaways

• The negotiations underline India’s firm stance on protecting agriculture and small businesses, a politically sensitive issue.

• Tariff disputes could impact short-term exports, but India is prioritizing long-term domestic interests.

• Markets will closely watch the outcome, as unresolved tensions could weigh on India-US trade flows and investor sentiment.

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