FACT CHECK: New Delhi to modify India-US bilateral agreements after Donald Trump's 25% tariff? Here's the truth

India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Sunday has issued a clarification online regarding New Delhi's bilateral agreements with the US, following the imposition of 25 per cent tariffs by US President Donald Trump.

This follows two separate reports posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday, claiming that the Indian government was considering suspending or reviewing certain bilateral agreements with the US, should Washington's hostile economic policies continue. One of the reports even offered a quotation, supposedly attributed to Indian media: "No privileges without mutual respect."  

"Disinformation being spread on X," the post by MEA's fact check unit stated, effectively clarifying that no such move to modify India-US bilateral agreements was being planned, and that the reports were false.

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The two posts—published by accounts named 'Middle Eastern Affairs' and 'China in English'—have since been deleted.

The Indian government on Wednesday responded to US President Donald Trump's imposition of 25 per cent tariffs—in addition to an unspecified secondary penalty—on New Delhi, saying that it was "studying its implications". 

"The Government will take all steps necessary to secure our national interest, as has been the case with other trade agreements including the latest Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the UK," a statement released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB) had said.

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The imposition of punitive tariffs on India precedes the sixth round of India-US bilateral talks, which is set to take place in New Delhi later this month.

Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal had stated on July 26 that the trade talks were “making fast progress”, with both sides looking to finalise the first tranche of the agreement by fall (September-October) as per a PTI report. 

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