No decision taken yet on US tariff cut: Commerce Secy to Parl panel

Amid US President Donald Trump's assertion that India has agreed to cut tariffs on various goods and the Opposition questioning the government's silence on the matter, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal on Monday allayed such fears. He said negotiations were still going on the matter and there was no finality on the issue by the two countries.

Barthwal and Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri briefed the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs on the US trade issue and India's ties with China and Europe, respectively.

Sources said Opposition MPs were not convinced with Barthwal's assurances as Trump himself had asserted that the Indian Government had agreed to reduce trade tariffs.

"India is negotiating with the US and no commitment has been made," Barthwal reportedly conveyed to the committee led by Congress MP Shashi Tharoor.

"India can reduce tariffs mutually and bilaterally but not multilaterally and that is why a bilateral trade agreement is being worked out," he reportedly told the committee, the sources said.

The US had officially not imposed any tariffs so far on India unlike Mexico, Canada and China, the Commerce Secretary told the panel.

Asserting that the government would protect the interests of the small and medium sectors and other key industries, Barthwal further informed the members that all agreements and trade deals would be mutually beneficial to both countries.

Misri briefed the committee on China and Europe.

According to the sources, he said the construction of a dam on the Brahmaputra in south-eastern China was an issue of concern for India, as China had earmarked funds for its development in its outlay.