Top officials to brief parliamentary panel on US reciprocal tariffs and trade policy

Top government officials, including foreign secretary and commerce secretary, are expected to brief parliamentary panel members on trade policy such as the recent US announcement to impose reciprocal tariffs on India, sources said.

Foreign secretary Vikram Misri and commerce secretary Sunil Barthwal are scheduled to brief the external affairs panel on 'current developments in foreign policy' and India's 'foreign trade' on Monday. The panel is chaired by Congress's Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor.

Reciprocal tariffs

Sources said MPs cutting across party lines are likely to pose queries about the reciprocal tariffs announced by the US President. Members are also likely to seek details about how such tariffs would impact Indian industry and India's plan of action to deal with the US move, they said. MPs may seek details about India's negotiations with the US on the matter, if any, the sources added.

The panel meeting comes at the time when US President Donald Trump has pledged to impose reciprocal tariffs on India from April 2, citing high import taxes on American goods.