From Calling India ‘Tariff King’, 25% Extra Duty for Russian Oil to Finally a Deal: How Trump Blinked - A Timeline

Ending almost 11 months of uncertainty that plunged the diplomatic ties to two decade low, India and the US on Monday finally agreed to a trade deal with US President Donald Trump saying that the Washington “effective immediately” has lowered tariffs on New Delhi from 50%- highest in the world to 18%. This comes after India aggressively signed trade deals with other countries, including the UK and the EU.Trump, while announcing the deal in an Truth Social Post, said that India has agreed to stop buying Russian oil and buy much more from the US and potentially Venezuela, and has agreed to purchase USD 500 billion worth of US energy, agriculture, coal and other products under the trade deal from the current over USD 191 billion.They also announced

plans to negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by fall of 2025.

How Trade Deal Finally Happened - A Timeline

Protracted, see-saw negotiations were on since April last year but only witnessed a green signal after talks on the India-EU trade deal concluded last week.

March 4-6, 2025:

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visits Washington DC. Holds bilateral meetings with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

April 2, 2025:

US President Donald Trump announced an additional import duty of 26 per cent (10 per cent baseline tariff and 16 per cent reciprocal tariff) on Indian goods.

April 9, 2025:

The US suspends the 26 per cent reciprocal tariff on Indian goods for 90 days (until July 9, 2025).

April 23-29, 2025:

Then Indian chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal (now Commerce Secretary) visits Washington for the first in-person meeting with US counterparts for a proposed trade pact. They discussed terms of references covering 19 chapters, including tariffs, non-tariff barriers and customs facilitation.

May 17-20, 2025:

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal visited Washington and met USTR Greer and US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

June 4-10, 2025:

A US delegation, led by the Additional US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, visits India for week-long discussions. Talks cover market access, digital trade, customs facilitation, sanitary and phytosanitary measures, technical barriers to trade, and the legal framework.

June 26, 2025:

An Indian delegation, led by Agarwal, again visited Washington for the next round of talks to bridge differences before the July 9 deadline.

June 27, 2025:

US President Donald Trump said America is going to have a "very big" trade deal with India.

July 31, 2025:

The US announced a 25 per cent duty to be effective from August 7, 2025 (9.30 am IST).

Aug 6, 2025:

Trump slapped an additional 25 per cent tariff on goods coming from India as penalty for New Delhi's continued purchase of Russian oil. After this order, the total tariff on Indian goods, barring a small exemption list, rose to 50 per cent. To be effective from August 27, 2025.

Sep 16, 2025:

Officials from the office of United States Trade Representative held discussions in India on various aspects of the trade deal, and it was decided to intensify efforts in this regard.

Sep 22, 2025:

Goyal visited New York for trade talks. He was accompanied by Agrawal.

Oct 15-17, 2025:

Indian team in Washington for talks.Till now formal six rounds of talks have been held.

Dec 10, 2025:

A delegation led by Deputy US Trade Representative (USTR) Rick Switzer in the national capital for two-day trade talks with his Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal.

Jan 12, 2026:

US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor asserted that both sides are actively engaged to firm up a trade deal.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DZJZ0L3zGOs

Jan 31, 2026:

When asked about the progress of the 'father of all deals', Goyal said India is working towards closing it with the US "quickly", as good negotiations are happening.

Feb 2, 2026:

India and the US agreed on a trade deal under which Washington will bring down the reciprocal tariff on Indian goods to 18 per cent from current 25 per cent, US President Donald Trump said on Monday after a phone conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

(With Inputs from PTI)