India is preparing to slap retaliatory duties on select U.S. products—hitting back at American tariffs on Indian steel and aluminium that have been in place since 2018.
The background: The U.S. has been charging 25% on Indian steel and 10% on aluminium, calling them “national security” measures rather than safeguard tariffs. That label helps the U.S. dodge WTO rules that typically limit safeguard tariffs—and delay retaliation.
India’s position? Enough’s enough. The tariffs have now been extended again from March 2025—this time, with no sunset clause.
What’s next: India has formally notified the WTO that it intends to impose retaliatory tariffs on U.S. goods. The U.S. tariffs have impacted $7.6 billion worth of Indian exports, and India’s countermeasures could raise $1.91 billion from U.S. products entering the country.
Zoom out: this isn’t just about steel. It’s also about leverage. The announcement comes just as India and the U.S. are deep in talks over a new bilateral trade deal, with Indian negotiators currently in Washington.
