Informist New Delhi

Under the trade deal with the US, which is currently under negotiation, India may get a preferential tariff treatment, compared with other trading partners, a commerce ministry official said. "The US deal is all about preferential treatment."

For example, if the tariff is 20% for Vietnamese goods in the US, it may be lower for Indian goods, the official said. A delegation of officials from the commerce ministry, led by Special Secretary and India's chief negotiator Rajesh Agrwal, is in Washington this week to negotiate the trade deal. 

Meanwhile, Indian industry is hopeful that a preliminary deal would be announced soon--before the US's country-wise reciprocal tariffs kick in Aug. 1. US President Donald Trump, who has been sending individual letters to nations from last week, informing them about the reciprocal tariffs due to hit them, has not yet announced any duty for India. 

While on Apr. 2, Trump had announced a 26% reciprocal tariff on Indian goods, it is not clear whether the president will stick to the same level if he does issue a tariff letter to New Delhi. The tariffs mentioned in the latest letters sent to some countries so far are different from what was unveiled for them in April.