Higher import duties on US items may be deferred again

The government, for the third time, is expected to postpone the deadline for the imposition of higher customs duties on 29 US products, including almond, walnut and pulses, by another 45 days, an official said.

The commerce ministry has asked its finance counterpart to extend the deadline for the rollout of duty hike further and a notification in this regard will be issued soon, the official added.

In June, India decided to impose retaliatory tariffs from August 4. But it was extended by another 45 days till September 18 and then till November 2.

The duty hike move was in retaliation to US President Donald Trump's March 9 decision to impose heavy tariffs on imported steel and aluminium items.

Senior officials of India and the US are in discussions to finalise a kind of trade deal. Both the sides holding two track discussions - to increase trade in short and medium term, and identify long-term trade potentials.

India is pressing for exemption from high duty imposed by the US on certain steel and aluminium products, resumption of export benefits to certain domestic products under their generalised system of preferences (GSP), greater market access for its products from sectors, including agriculture, automobile, auto components and engineering.

As many as 3,500 Indian products from sectors such as chemicals and engineering get duty-free access to the US market under the GSP, introduced in 1976.

On the other hand, the US is demanding greater market access for its farm and manufacturing products, including medical devices.

As part of imposition of higher import duties, New Delhi has notified higher tariffs on several products.