India is kicking Trump's butt on the trade deal, TACO time (again)

Summary:White House revises US-India trade factsheetReference to pulse tariff cuts removedDigital services language softenedCommitment wording adjustedNegotiations appear ongoingThe White House has revised its official factsheet outlining U.S.–India trade discussions, quietly removing references to agricultural tariff cuts and softening language around digital trade commitments.In an updated version of the document, a prior reference to India cutting tariffs on pulses, a politically sensitive agricultural product, was deleted. Pulses, which include lentils and chickpeas, are a key component of India’s domestic farming sector, making tariff reductions contentious.The revised factsheet also adjusts wording around broader trade commitments. Where the earlier version said India “intends” to purchase more U.S. products, the new language states India is “committed” to doing so, a shift that subtly alters the tone but leaves practical implementation details unclear.More notably, the White House scaled back language regarding digital services. Previous references to scrapping digital services taxes and banning customs duties on electronic transmissions were removed. Instead, the updated statement says the two countries will negotiate digital trade rules, signalling a less definitive outcome than initially presented.The edits suggest either ongoing negotiations or a recalibration of messaging as trade talks continue. Digital services taxation has been a flashpoint between Washington and New Delhi, with U.S. officials long criticising India’s digital tax framework as discriminatory toward American technology firms.While the changes do not necessarily indicate a breakdown in talks, they underscore the complexity of finalising trade commitments across politically sensitive sectors. Agricultural market access and digital regulation remain among the most challenging components of any expanded bilateral trade framework.Markets are unlikely to react sharply to the wording revisions alone, but the episode highlights the fluid nature of U.S.–India trade negotiations as both sides seek incremental progress without triggering domestic political backlash.
This article was written by Eamonn Sheridan at investinglive.com.

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