India–US trade deal draws praise; triggers call for caution

The much-awaited India–US trade agreement announced by President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi drew strong endorsement from Indian American business leaders and mixed but largely constructive reactions from policy veterans, with supporters calling it a breakthrough and former officials urging caution as details remain unclear. “The commitment to buy from the US along with the tax holidays to data centers, will support the government’s thrust on data capital—hyperscale data centers enabling critical infrastructure and enhanced investment in data centers. The trade deal fully endorses and supports India’s ambition to be a digital infrastructure hub. Reduced tariffs will also see a surge in key sectors such as textile, leather, gems and jewellery, seafood exports, and specialty chemical stocks, attracting more private capital to boost capacity and supply chains, contributing to a resurgent demand in exports. The two announcements together will foster long-term strategic and economic growth and cooperation between the world’s largest democracies,” Vikram Raghani, Partner at JSA, told IBT. Read more