‘Had You Made Tariffs Zero…’: Piyush Goyal’s Cheeky 18% Cricket Remark to US Ambassador Goes Viral

New Delhi: Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, in a lighter conversation with US Ambassador Sergio Gor at a reception hosted by him in New Delhi, joked around the recently announced India-US trade deal and the USA cricket team losing a match against India in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Standing beside Sergio Gor, Piyush Goyal said that the USA would have won the match against India had it reduced the reciprocal tariffs to zero percent, receiving applause from the audience at the venue.Complementing that the USA has started on cricket just a few years ago, the team's performance was fabulous. In a candid conversation with Sergio Gor at the reception, Goyal said, "The US may not have won yesterday's match - against India in the T20 World Cup - but

I must say, for a country which has not known cricket and has started on cricket a few years ago, the performance was fabulous."

"Sergio was there to enjoy the match... Sergio pointed out one very important factor - the US lost the match by 18% and a very humble request Imade to him as a suggestion that if only you had made the reciprocal tariff zero, you would possibly have won the match," the Union Minister said, as the guests present at the reception laughed and clapped.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NdOnv91LsGE

"I was indeed amazed by the fabulous performance the US cricket team did," added Piyush Goyal candidly, at the reception hosted at the residence of US Ambassador Sergio Gor.In another statement, Piyush Goyal complimented Gor saying, "I must place on record, the Trade Deal would not have been possible but for his (US Ambassador Sergio Gor) support, his personal leadership to the entire engagement. Thank you very much, Sergio, for all that you have done to further strengthen this bond between the US and India." Sergio Gor on PM Modi-Trump Relations Speaking at the reception, US envoy to India, Sergio Gor said that the White House was paying attention to India, thanks to the friendship between PM Modi and President Donald Trump."...The White House is paying attention to India, our President is paying attention to India. Thanks to the friendship that President Trump has with PM Modi, we were able to get the trade deal..." he said.Union External Affairs minister S Jaishankar also attended Sergio's reception at his residence in New Delhi.

India-US Announce Interim Trade Deal

India and United States last week announced the much awaited bilateral trade deal with some details coming over the past weekend, detailing how India's agriculture, farm markets will remain protected.As per the interim deal, the pact ensures adequate safeguards to protect the interests of India's farmers and the domestic industry from any significant increase in imports.Union Minister Piyush Goyal said that the deal will "ultimately help our farmers", who are already exporting USD 50-55 billion worth of agricultural and fish products.In another statement, Indian goods will have a competitive advantage in the American market due to the 18 per cent tariff, as competitor nations such as China face tariffs as high as 35 per cent while other countries are subject to levies of over 19 per cent.