India - US Tariff and Relations | News + Updates

[kambhakt]

@Owais sb

To tell you the truth, I am extremely worried about the Indo-US trade negotiations for the same reasons that you are for Pakistan. Indian farming sector will be devastated if the sector is opened up to US dairy and grains imports. Pakistan has a much smaller population and much lower % of people in farming than India. India has almost 50% population of 1.5 bn dependent on agri or about 750 million. Pak has about 250 million and 30% in agri or about 75 million. An opening up of Indian farm sector will have a 10X bigger impact in purely human terms than for Pak. The social fallout of it will be horrible. Whatever little extra export we may make because of waiver of US duty isn't worth it.

I would prefer to have a 50% import duty and save our farmers even though personally it is a negative situation for me. My fear is that the Govt of India may succumb, I hope and pray that they don't.

Regards

The Indian agriculture needs a huge dose of modernization. Opening up our markets might just provide that.

In 1991, there was a feeling that Indian manufacturing would collapse when we opened up the economy. Instead our manufacturing has strengthened. Our farmers will also adapt when faced with open markets.

 

[SoulSpokesman]

@kambhakt

The problem is not with Indian agriculture- it will survive. The problem is with farmers and agri labourers. They are over 50% of our workforce where less than 10% will suffice. Where will the remaining 40% go. Our manufacturing and services wont be able to accommodate them, not least because they are completely unskilled. Without addressing what is to be done with these folks, opening agri will be a disaster.

Regards

 

[Master Chief]

Mr Master Chief Janab,

My arguments stand on their own merits , so unlike Patwaris and Faujistanis I dont have to resort to ad hominem attacks.

I didnt say Trump bullied Pakistan into the trade deal. That would have first required some backbone on the part of the regime that has been imposed. They simply surrendered without even the semblance of a fight. The evidence is the commitment to remove all import duties on virtually all American products in the next budget, which will leave small farmers unable to compete against the economies of scale that American farms of thousands of acres have.

The country that faced by far the highest tariffs is China and they have negotiated a deal , while still facing very high, though lowered, tariffs. People like you would say they too have been bullied by Trump because they made some concessions like allowing the forced sale of Tiktok or agreeing to buy more US farm produce, but, in my opinion, they NEGOTIATED a better deal in their national interest, unlike Pakistan which surrendered to all demands without having anything concrete to show for it. India is similarly negotiating a deal in their national interest and , as in every negotiation, both sides will make concessions. The Indians government doesnt depend on Washington's approval for its survival, so it can place the interests of its farmers at the forefront and resist American demands, unlike the illegitimate regime in Pakistan, which knows it will collapse , for example, if Trump supports the Pakistan Democracy Act and so has no leverage except to follow orders coming from Centcom, Langlely, the White House and even from Trump's personal buddies who are facilitating side business deals. Despite 50% tariffs on India and 19% on Pakistan, American companies are investing hundreds of billions of dollars in India and Pakistan has nothing to show for it except some piddly MOUs or US Exim Bank loans that are going to be secured by sovereign guarantees and could well become another albatross around the nation's neck like the CPEC IPPs the Patwaris signed in the past.

So 50% is a better negotiated deal than 19%.

America will still invest billions more in India than Pakistan because there is more to invest in within a more populous nation. It's like saying America invests more in Europe than it does in Mongolia.

Do you understand what a proportion is?

Yes, the rumours are all true. You're an idiot. You yourself have provided ample evidence for this.

 

[El Sidd]

The Indian agriculture needs a huge dose of modernization. Opening up our markets might just provide that.

In 1991, there was a feeling that Indian manufacturing would collapse when we opened up the economy. Instead our manufacturing has strengthened. Our farmers will also adapt when faced with open markets.

#Modi ha to Mumkin hai.

 

[Owaiz]

So 50% is a better negotiated deal than 19%.

America will still invest billions more in India than Pakistan because there is more to invest in within a more populous nation. It's like saying America invests more in Europe than it does in Mongolia.

Do you understand what a proportion is?

Yes, the rumours are all true. You're an idiot. You yourself have provided ample evidence for this.

Typically ignorant and brainless Noonjeet. Is the population of India more than 100x of Pakistan ? Has India completely surrendered its agriculture to US imports and does its army chief carry around briefcases of minerals like a cheap salesman ? They are building local industry and capacity to the extent they can instead of selling all their raw minerals cheaply to American investors and customers. What concrete benefits have the common people of Pakistan gotten from "negotiating" the 19% tariffs ? The economy is at stall speed whereas India is growing at 8% even with 50% US tariffs.

 

[kambhakt]

@kambhakt

The problem is not with Indian agriculture- it will survive. The problem is with farmers and agri labourers. They are over 50% of our workforce where less than 10% will suffice. Where will the remaining 40% go. Our manufacturing and services wont be able to accommodate them, not least because they are completely unskilled. Without addressing what is to be done with these folks, opening agri will be a disaster.

Regards

You are right there. We need to move employment out of agriculture into industry.

Looks like the agricultural workforce as a %age of total workforce has increased in the last few years.

 

[kambhakt]

#Modi ha to Mumkin hai.

Happened before Modi came into national politics.

 

[Thinking]

The Indian agriculture needs a huge dose of modernization. Opening up our markets might just provide that.

In 1991, there was a feeling that Indian manufacturing would collapse when we opened up the economy. Instead our manufacturing has strengthened. Our farmers will also adapt when faced with open markets.

Indian manufacturing is "tiny". And our "farmers" can't adapt simply because they are already dinosaurs surviving on government aid. You realize that we are talking about importing food and not the "tech and methodology" to farm competitive.

People say anything. What India needs an agricultural reform. Co-Op or Corporate farming is the only way. We need only 10% of what we have today as farmers (half of India!).

 

[El Sidd]

Happened before Modi came into national politics.

It's an understandable survival tactic given the sheer size of your country. It's like someone told you that you would die by a thousand cut and your casual response is sure i got a thousand cut to live for. For Pakistan it's entirely different, we have a declared jugular vein which can be cut by a single blow and hence our every fight is fought like a fight and celebrated as one.

 

[El Sidd]

Indian manufacturing is "tiny". And our "farmers" can't adapt simply because they are already dinosaurs surviving on government aid. You realize that we are talking about importing food and not the "tech and methodology" to farm competitive.

People say anything. What India needs an agricultural reform. Co-Op or Corporate farming is the only way. We need only 10% of what we have today as farmers (half of India!).

Balidaan dedo like atleast they'll make a good watchable movie to your liking, right?

 

[kambhakt]

Indian manufacturing is "tiny". And our "farmers" can't adapt simply because they are already dinosaurs surviving on government aid. You realize that we are talking about importing food and not the "tech and methodology" to farm competitive.

People say anything. What India needs an agricultural reform. Co-Op or Corporate farming is the only way. We need only 10% of what we have today as farmers (half of India!).

Indian manufacturing undoubtedly needs to be far bigger that it currently is. However it is today ranked 5th in Global Manufacturing output. Before liberalization, it most probably was not even in the top 50.

Opening up of markets make it a requirement to adapt to survive. Adapt means to get "tech and methodology" The push for corporate farming or cooperative farming will come when the alternative to it is to be doomed. If you try to push farming reforms down the throat of farmers, all you will get is farmer protests. You create conditions where they either go in for cooperative farming or perish, they will go in for cooperative farming.

 

[Master Chief]

Typically ignorant and brainless Noonjeet. Is the population of India more than 100x of Pakistan ? Has India completely surrendered its agriculture to US imports and does its army chief carry around briefcases of minerals like a cheap salesman ? They are building local industry and capacity to the extent they can instead of selling all their raw minerals cheaply to American investors and customers. What concrete benefits have the common people of Pakistan gotten from "negotiating" the 19% tariffs ? The economy is at stall speed whereas India is growing at 8% even with 50% US tariffs.

Lecture us less on "economy" you miserable fraudu.

Start with basic fractions.

Total GDP is irrelevant. Even total GDP growth is a function of GDP. Pick up a mathematics textbook and learn that GDP per capita is - albeit a very crude and imperfect measure anyway, as others have pointed out - the bare minimum parameter that will allow you to compare economies between nations that have different populations.

You will find that the per capita differences are not as dramatic as this "trillion dollar economy" rubbish that hindustanis keep touting. And when you finally learn about fractions and realise what GDP per capita is, it may help to explain to your confused self why so many streets in Hindustan are still paved with faeces rather than gold.

Why do you think we are all as illiterate and innumerate as you?

Noonie? I've been called many things here...but Noonie? Gosh you're a confused little soul.

 

[Vkdindian1]

It appears that India is importing more oil from Russia than before Trump imposed the new tariffs.

https://www.reuters.com/markets/commodities/india-imports-more-russian-crude-mix-buyers-shifts-2025-12-11/

India has been also going on with tough negotiations regarding the trade deal. Trump had claimed about a month back that India has already capitulated. So much for Trump and his claims.

India has been just a handful of nations still standing against Trump’s dictats on a trade deal against penalising tariffs. India has also not shown any hurry inspite of 25% additional duties due to Russian oil. An uptick in the oil import also seems to indicate that few fingers have been shown to Trump and his policies of coercion.

Few big ticket FDI declarations have also taken place recently. Strangely, his minions haven’t been talking of late about all these declarations of FDI by US companies in India.

What happened to Navarro? Has been very quiet for some time now, unlike twice a day statements on Modi just about a month back? He might have been put on leash, seeing no impact of his inflammatory statements on the social media.

 

[Owaiz]

Lecture us less on "economy" you miserable fraudu.

Start with basic fractions.

Total GDP is irrelevant. Even total GDP growth is a function of GDP. Pick up a mathematics textbook and learn that GDP per capita is - albeit a very crude and imperfect measure anyway, as others have pointed out - the bare minimum parameter that will allow you to compare economies between nations that have different populations.

You will find that the per capita differences are not as dramatic as this "trillion dollar economy" rubbish that hindustanis keep touting. And when you finally learn about fractions and realise what GDP per capita is, it may help to explain to your confused self why so many streets in Hindustan are still paved with faeces rather than gold.

Why do you think we are all as illiterate and innumerate as you?

Noonie? I've been called many things here...but Noonie? Gosh you're a confused little soul.

Bootlickers are so stupid that they don't even realise they are arguing against themselves. Pakistan's economic growth is much slower and population growth is faster. So, on a per capita basis, Pakistan is falling behind even further than it is on an absolute GDP basis.

 

[Vkdindian1]

India can do better than what it is doing. China is a good example for that comparison. India has pulled quite far ahead of Pakistan and has gained a fair amount of momentum too which takes time to build.

@Master Chief you seem to be arguing against any real differences in both the economies. There seems to be an attempt to play down Indian progress in this regard.
I asked ChatGPT, which has come out with the following summary for both the nations considering GDP as well as GNI.

“1. GDP per Capita (Average economic output per person)

GDP per capita = total GDP divided by the population
It shows how much economic output each person would get on average.

India (2025 estimates)
• Nominal GDP per capita: ~ $2,878 (current USD) according to IMF. 
• GDP per capita (PPP): ~ $12,132 (international dollars, PPP) — higher due to lower cost of living in India. 

Pakistan (2024 estimates)

(Most recent available data)
• Nominal GDP per capita: ~ $1,485 (current USD). 
• GDP per capita (PPP): ~ $6,287 (international dollars). 

Comparison:
• India’s nominal GDP per capita is almost 1.9-2× that of Pakistan’s. 
• On a PPP basis, India’s measure is still significantly higher (reflecting greater real income adjusted for cost of living). 

⸻

2. GNI per Capita (Average income of residents)

GNI per capita = Gross National Income ÷ population
Includes income earned by residents abroad and excludes income earned by foreigners.

India
• Atlas method (GNI per capita): ~ $2,650 USD (2024). 
This is an official World Bank measure using the Atlas method. 
• PPP GNI per capita: Data isn’t always directly available from the same source, but PPP adjustments show much higher relative income; for example, other indicators show India’s GNI per capita PPP around ~$11,000 in 2024. 

Pakistan
• PPP GDP per capita frequently used as a proxy for GNI per capita PPP: ~ $6,287 in 2024. 

(Official World Bank data for Pakistan’s nominal GNI per capita specifically is less current in open sources but generally lower than India’s Atlas figure.)

Comparison:
• India’s nominal GNI per capita (~$2,650) is clearly higher than Pakistan’s nominal income per person. 
• In PPP terms, average income adjusted for cost of living remains higher in India than in Pakistan, though the PPP gap (like GDP PPP per capita) is narrower than in nominal terms. “

I do think that the Indian figures are so much higher than Pakistan and anything to gloat about. Since, the number of poor, malnourished, jobless etc can be found galore in India and we are nowhere near, where we should have been.

At the same time Pakistanis need to start accepting the fact that they are missing the bus everyday. I don’t see any radical economic reforms taking place in Pakistan that can propel your economy the way it is required to be done.