India-US Trade Deal: Timeline Of Key Moments That Led To The Announcement | Photos

In a major diplomatic breakthrough after months of intense negotiations and tense moments, India and the United States finalised a trade deal on late Monday.

US President Donald Trump slashed tariffs from 25 per cent to 18 per cent after a call with Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Since returning to office for his second term, Trump has repeatedly called India the ‘tariff king’ and alleged that the US faces a significant trade deficit with New Delhi.

Following a report on non-tariff barriers globally, including in India, the US in April last year imposed 27% ‘reciprocal’ tariffs on Indian products

In August 2025, the US announced the imposition of a 25 per cent tariff plus another 25 per cent punitive duty for buying Russia's crude oil and military equipment.

In October 2025, Trump claimed that he had prevented a war between India and Pakistan in May by threatening to impose an unprecedented 250% tariff on both countries

Speaking to News18, US Ambassador Sergio Gor said the trade deal was sealed due to the close personal relationship between PM Modi and Trump, which played a key role in its progress.

Trump, while announcing the details of the phone conversation, said India would move to cut its own tariffs and non-tariff barriers against US products to “zero".