India holding firm in trade talks with US – sources

India has continued to take a firm stand on refusing to open up its market for US agricultural products in trade talks, government sources told RT on Monday.

New Delhi may consider importing a marginally higher quantity of US rice, as it would not materially impact Indian farmers, the sources said, discussing the latest round of trade negotiations between the two countries.

The Indian government, however, “remains unequivocal on agriculture,” arguing that it is directly tied to rural livelihoods and food security and cannot be opened to foreign competition under a trade pact, according to the sources.

India is willing to make commitments in defense, clean energy, and LNG, viewed as strategic and high-value sectors, they added.

A delegation led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer visited India for trade negotiations last week. The trip was the second by US officials to India since Washington imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff and an additional 25% levy on New Delhi for the purchase of Russian oil.

India has dismissed criticism over its Russian oil imports and maintains its energy policy is driven by “national interest,” though it is also expanding trade with the US.

In November, India announced a major contract for sourcing liquified petroleum gas (LPG) from the US.

Though officials are optimistic about a trade pact, US President Donald Trump threatened additional sanctions earlier this month, accusing India of dumping rice into the US markets.

India has made its best offers so far to the US in ongoing trade talks, a top official told a Senate panel last week.

The US is India’s largest export market, accounting for exports worth $52 billion in the first seven months of the current fiscal year.