India refuses to negotiate trade deals ‘with a gun to its head,’ says minister amid talks with US
Commerce minister Piyush Goyal defends India’s independent trade stance as Washington pressures New Delhi over Russian oil imports
BERLIN (AA) – India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said Friday that his country will not negotiate trade agreements “with a gun to its head,” emphasizing New Delhi’s commitment to national interest amid renewed trade talks with the United States.
Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue, Goyal said India remains open to discussions but will not rush into deals under pressure or deadlines. “We are talking to the United States, of course, but we don’t do deals in a hurry and we don’t do deals with a gun to our head,” he said.
The remarks come as Washington maintains 50% tariffs on Indian imports, a policy introduced under the Trump administration, while urging New Delhi to halt purchases of discounted Russian crude oil amid the war in Ukraine.
Goyal defended India’s approach, saying, “We’ve accepted if there’s a tariff on us, there’s a tariff on us. We’re looking at how to overcome that, exploring newer markets and building stronger domestic demand.”
He added that India’s foreign and trade policies are shaped solely by national interest, not external pressure.
“India has never decided who its friends will be based on any other considerations,” Goyal said.
Despite tensions, the United States remains India’s largest trading partner, with bilateral trade in goods and services estimated at over $212 billion in 2024.
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