India must be cautious, intelligent whereas negotiating commerce pact with US: Raghuram Rajan

India must be ‘very cautious and intelligent’ whereas negotiating commerce agreements with the U.S., particularly with regard to the agriculture sector, which is closely subsidised by developed nations, former RBI Governor Raghuram Rajan mentioned on Friday (July 18, 2025).

In an interview with PTI Videos, Mr. Rajan mentioned India’s financial development has type of settled within the vary of 6-7%, and a fraction of share level could also be affected by the worldwide commerce uncertainties.

“I think where it is much more sort of difficult (trade negotiations) is in areas such as agriculture, where every country subsidises its producers, and our producers may be relatively smaller, may have somewhat lower subsidies…unconstrained flow of agricultural products into the country may create problems for them,” he mentioned.

Earlier this week, the Indian workforce was in Washington for the fifth spherical of negotiations for the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

“For example, can we encourage more foreign direct investments from those countries (developed countries) to enhance the value added in some of those sectors, the milk for example, sort of improving the value added in our milk products, milk powder, cheese, etc, could be beneficial to our milk producers,” the eminent economist famous.

U.S. President Donald Trump has mentioned that the proposed commerce cope with India can be on the strains of what America has finalised with Indonesia. Giving entry within the agriculture sector is proving to be a political concern for the federal government.

“Are there issues we are able to do, moderately than essentially saying we welcome type of extra milk into the nation from different nations.

“So all this requires very careful, clever negotiation, and I hope that is what our government officials are engaged in,” Mr. Rajan, presently a professor of finance at Chicago Booth, mentioned.

India has hardened its place on the U.S. demand for responsibility concessions on agricultural and dairy merchandise. New Delhi has, to this point, not given any responsibility concessions to any of its buying and selling companions in a free commerce settlement within the dairy sector.

Noting that the commerce tensions are adverse for each by way of exports in addition to funding, Rajan mentioned, “But you must remember that there are opportunities also in what is happening to the extent that India is perceived as an alternative route to some of the other regions like the United States.”

According to him, if the tariffs imposed by the US on China and another elements of Asia are a lot increased than tariffs on India, there could also be a possibility for some manufacturing to circulate to India.

While stating that Indian exports in manufacturing to the United States usually are not that massive, he mentioned any type of tariffs (on India) may have some modest dampening impact, however not so much.

Mr. Rajan mentioned that India’s financial development has type of settled at a 6-7 per cent vary, a fraction of share level possibly affected by the worldwide type of tariff atmosphere.

“But in the longer term, this would spell opportunity for India,” he added.

Trump introduced heavy tariffs on numerous nations, together with India, on April 2. However, it was quickly postponed for 90 days till July 9 and later to August 1.

India is searching for the removing of an extra tariff (26%). It can be searching for the easing of tariffs on metal and aluminium (50%) and auto (25%) sectors.

As far as tariffs go, Mr. Rajan mentioned he thinks there are particular areas the place India has develop into extra protectionist, and added, “certainly we can reverse that protectionism”.

He mentioned that there are areas the place India has been traditionally protectionist, and bringing down the extent of tariffs, rising competitors in these sectors could be fairly useful.

“For example, in car manufacturing, we have some advantages. We produce certain kinds of cars very well, and bringing competition in the automobile sector can actually be quite beneficial,” Mr. Rajan noticed.

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