As India prepares to cut tariffs ahead of a crucial meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, the move signals a calculated attempt to maintain trade stability while avoiding retaliatory measures. With the US administration pushing for reciprocal tariffs and considering steep duties on steel and aluminium imports, India’s pre-emptive tariff reductions in select sectors could be a strategic manoeuver to keep economic ties intact. However, the broader implications of such concessions need closer scrutiny. India’s economic policies have traditionally aimed at balancing domestic industry protection with global trade integration. The tariff reductions ~ targeting electronics, medical and surgical equipment, and chemicals ~ suggest a willingness to accommodate US demands while aligning with India’s own production and consumption patterns. This approach may seem pragmatic, given the rising tensions in global trade, but the risk of........

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