The deal rests on negotiations by both parties as India and the US want a win-win deal, says Dr Seshadri Ramkumar.
Lubbock (USA)
United States will be soon making trade deals with negotiating countries to give stability and predictability to businesses.
India was supposed to the first country making trade deal with Unite States, but it is lingering causing anxiety among exporters in sectors such as textiles, footwear and leather.
Speaking recently with a CBS television program, Honorable Jodey Arrington, the Chairman of the powerful Budget Committee of the U.S. House of Representatives said after his meeting with United States’ Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent on November 19, 2025, at the Capitol stated they discussed settling the trade issues so that there is certainty. The Chairman is supportive of tariffs as it helps with revenues to take care of deficit.
Chairman Arrington was a colleague of mine at Texas Tech University before running for U.S. Congress and represents Lubbock and the cotton belt in West Texas.
I have opined about possible tariff rates for India and optimism of getting a trade deal by the end of the year. The rationale on how I arrived at the possible rate is given in my brief article, “Textile Trade in Tariff Era,†published in the conference proceedings of the 78th Annual Conference of the Textile Association, released on the inaugural day of the event, November 21, 2025 in Coimbatore.
With the statements from Congressman Jodey Arrington on getting the deals done, it is hoped that a deal may be coming soon. Also, it is noted that there is support for tariff in the Republican side of the U.S. Congress and hence it is highly unlikely to have zero tariff for products from India except certain sectors related to healthcare where there is greater need. Chairman Arrington commented on the record revenue arising due to tariffs to offset deficits in the budget.
The deal rests on negotiations by both parties as both countries want a win-win deal.
About the author:
Dr Seshadri Ramkumar is a Professor, Nonwovens & Advanced Materials Laboratory in Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX, USA. You can contact him on Email: s.ramkumar@ttu.edu