India–US Trade Talks Paused as Tariff Uncertainty Disrupts March Deal Timeline

New Delhi | 23 Feb 2026 Negotiations between India and the United States over an interim bilateral trade agreement have been put on hold, with officials from both sides postponing a three-day meeting that was scheduled for this week. The discussions were meant to finalise the legal text of the proposed deal, but a sudden shift in the US tariff framework has cast doubt on whether the March timeline, agreed earlier by New Delhi and Washington, can still be met. The delay follows a major ruling by the US Supreme Court, which struck down President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs. Since then, the US administration has been exploring alternative legal routes, including Sections 122, 232, 301, and even Section 338 of older trade laws. This rapid shift has created uncertainty around tariff rates and timelines. As one official put it, “Any enduring pact between two sovereigns is not possible in such fluid situation, amid high-level of uncertainties.” Because of these developments, the planned visit of India’s chief negotiator Darpan Jain has also been postponed. Officials said both sides agreed to reschedule talks only after fully assessing the impact of the latest US legal and policy changes. This pause also affects the expected March visit of US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who was likely to sign the interim agreement. For now, all linked meetings are on hold. India’s commerce ministry confirmed it is closely reviewing the situation, saying, “We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday… We are studying all these developments for their implications.” The interim deal was part of a broader trade framework announced on February 6, following talks between President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year. While some analysts believe the ruling eases pressure on India by lowering tariff leverage, the ongoing uncertainty means both countries may need to rethink and realign their commitments before moving forward. India–US Trade Talks Paused as Tariff Uncertainty Disrupts March Deal Timeline Negotiations between India and the United States over an interim bilateral trade agreement have been put on hold, with officials from both sides postponing a three-day meeting that was scheduled for this week. The discussions were meant to finalise the legal text of the proposed deal, but a sudden shift in the US tariff framework has cast doubt on whether the March timeline, agreed earlier by New Delhi and Washington, can still be met. The delay follows a major ruling by the US Supreme Court, which struck down President Donald Trump’s use of emergency powers to impose tariffs. Since then, the US administration has been exploring alternative legal routes, including Sections 122, 232, 301, and even Section 338 of older trade laws. This rapid shift has created uncertainty around tariff rates and timelines. As one official put it, “Any enduring pact between two sovereigns is not possible in such fluid situation, amid high-level of uncertainties.” Because of these developments, the planned visit of India’s chief negotiator Darpan Jain has also been postponed. Officials said both sides agreed to reschedule talks only after fully assessing the impact of the latest US legal and policy changes. This pause also affects the expected March visit of US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who was likely to sign the interim agreement. For now, all linked meetings are on hold. India’s commerce ministry confirmed it is closely reviewing the situation, saying, “We have noted the US Supreme Court judgement on tariffs yesterday… We are studying all these developments for their implications.” The interim deal was part of a broader trade framework announced on February 6, following talks between President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi last year. While some analysts believe the ruling eases pressure on India by lowering tariff leverage, the ongoing uncertainty means both countries may need to rethink and realign their commitments before moving forward.