From tariff shock to trade deal: The timeline of India-US pact

US President Donald Trump connected Monday announced a commercialized woody with India, months aft Washington imposed steep tariffs of up to 50 per cent connected Indian goods, including penalties linked to New Delhi’s acquisition of Russian crude.

Announcing the statement connected his societal media level Truth Social, Trump said the US would chopped reciprocal tariffs connected Indian exports to 18 per cent from 25 per cent and claimed that India had agreed to little tariffs connected US goods and halt Russian lipid imports. Prime Minister Narendra Modi acknowledged the tariff reduction, calling it a boost for “Made successful India” products, but New Delhi has not commented connected the oil-related claims made by the US president.The woody was announced aft months of negotiations. Here's a look astatine the cardinal moments that led to woody announcement connected February 2The ambition Is Set (February 13, 2025)Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump agreed to deepen bilateral commercialized ties, mounting a people of much than doubling commercialized to $500 cardinal by 2030. The 2 sides announced plans to negociate the archetypal tranche of a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement by autumn 2025.

Negotiations statesman — past stall (March–April 2025)Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal made aggregate visits to Washington, engaging with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. But connected April 2, Trump imposed a 26 per cent import work connected Indian goods, jolting talks. Though the tariff was suspended for 90 days connected April 9, uncertainty lingered.Formal talks advancement (April–June 2025)India’s main negotiator Rajesh Agrawal led delegations to Washington, portion a US squad headed by Additional USTR Brendan Lynch visited India.

Negotiators agreed connected the model of talks spanning 19 chapters, including tariffs, marketplace access, integer trade, and regulatory barriers.Deadline unit (June 2025)With the July 9 tariff deadline approaching, India sent different delegation to Washington to span differences. Days later, Trump publically said the US was headed towards a “very big” commercialized woody with India, signalling governmental intent adjacent arsenic differences remained.

Tariff escalation (July–August 2025)On July 31, the US announced a 25 per cent work connected Indian goods, followed days aboriginal by an further 25 per cent punishment tariff linked to India’s continued acquisition of Russian oil. Tariffs connected astir Indian exports roseate to 50 per cent, sharply raising the stakes.Backchannel propulsion to salvage talks (September–December 2025)After months of escalation, negotiators returned to the table.

USTR officials visited India successful September, followed by high-level engagements successful New York and Washington. By December, six ceremonial rounds of talks had been completed, with Deputy USTR Rick Switzer starring a delegation to New Delhi.The Deal is sealed (February 2026)In January, some sides signalled momentum, with Goyal saying India was moving to adjacent the “father of each deals.” On February 2, Trump announced that Washington would trim the reciprocal tariff connected Indian goods to 18 per cent pursuing a telephone telephone with Modi, sealing the agreement.