EEPC Chairman Critiques US Tariff Strategy Amid Trade Negotiations
EEPC Chairman slams US tariff move as 'bargaining tactic'

Image: News 18
Pankaj Chadha, Chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), condemned the US Trade Representative's report on India, labeling it a negotiating tactic to pressure India during Bilateral Trade Agreement talks. He rejected allegations of forced labor and expressed concerns over the impact of tariffs on trade negotiations.
- 01Pankaj Chadha criticized the US tariff offensive as a tactic to influence ongoing Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations.
- 02He asserted that the US's claims regarding forced labor in India are unfounded and rejected them outright.
- 03Chadha highlighted the inconsistency of negotiating a BTA while the US imposes an 18% duty on Indian exports.
- 04He expressed concern over the UK-India Free Trade Agreement, which remains unoperational due to a steel dispute.
- 05Chadha emphasized that the imposition of new duties post-agreement is unfair and should have been addressed during negotiations.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Pankaj Chadha, the Chairman of the Engineering Export Promotion Council (EEPC), has publicly criticized the United States Trade Representative's (USTR) recent report on India, describing the US's tariff actions as a strategic maneuver to exert pressure during ongoing Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) discussions. He expressed confidence that the USTR's claims would not hold up in court, referencing a previous Supreme Court ruling that deemed such tariffs illegal. Chadha pointed out the contradictions in the proposed trade agreement, questioning why India should agree to duty-free access for certain US products while facing an 18% duty on its exports. He firmly denied allegations of forced labor in India, calling them baseless. Furthermore, he raised concerns regarding the operational status of India's Free Trade Agreement with the UK, which is stalled due to a steel tariff dispute, arguing that imposing new duties after signing an agreement is unjust. Chadha's remarks reflect a broader apprehension about the fairness and integrity of international trade negotiations.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
The ongoing tariff disputes and trade negotiations could significantly affect Indian exporters and the broader economy.
Advertisement
In-Article Ad
Reader Poll
What do you think about the US's tariff strategy towards India?
Connecting to poll...
Read the original article
Visit the source for the complete story.




