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Last Updated:February 03, 2026, 23:58 IST
As India and US seal the trade deal, here’s a timeline of key moments leading to the announcement of this much-awaited agreement.
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".
News Photogallery India-US Trade Deal: Timeline Of Key Moments That Led To The Announcement | Photos
