India-US trade deal: India should be highly cautious about lowering duties for USagricultural or genetically modified products and must press the Trump administration to sharply reduce its steep tariffs, the Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) said on Wednesday.The think tank also advised New Delhi to wait for the US Supreme Court’s ruling on President Donald Trump’s tariff powers before making any binding promises, noting that the decision could “reshape the entire negotiating table overnight.”

Talks on a possible bilateral trade agreement are underway in the capital, where a US team has begun two days of discussions with Indian officials.GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava said, “If the US is serious about partnership, it should first cut the punitive tariff on Indian exports from 50 per cent to 25 per cent, especially since the Russian oil issue — the stated trigger — has already been resolved,” as quoted by PTI.His comments come as US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in a briefing to the Senate, confirmed that American negotiators are currently engaged with their Indian counterparts in New Delhi. Greer described India as “a very difficult nut to crack” on access for US row crops and meat products, while stressing that New Delhi has recently been “quite forward-leaning” and that ongoing offers are “the best we’ve ever received as a country,” Srivastava said.Row crops — such as corn, soybeans, wheat, cotton, rice, sugarcane, barley, sorghum and canola — are crucial global commodities and politically delicate in India because of the impact on farmers and food security.Srivastava said the US testimony highlights Washington’s expectations but gives little insight into what concessions it may offer. “The conversation, so far, is heavily tilted toward opening India’s markets for US farm products and biofuels, with little clarity on market access for Indian exports,” he said.He added that India must “insist on balance, not optics,” and be particularly careful about any commitments involving agricultural goods or GMO items.