India is considering lowering American import obligations for walnuts, almonds, apples and cranberry

New Delhi: India could lower or completely eliminate import taxes on American walnuts, almonds, apples and cranberry as it seeks to build deeper trade ties with the United States ahead of Donald Trump’s mutual tariffs that will begin on April 2nd.

Officials said talks are continuing to provide American walnuts and almonds with concessions to their obligations and eliminate cranberry obligations. The two sides are focusing on bilateral trade contracts by the end of the year, and have set a bidirectional trade target of $500 billion by 2030. New Delhi places a standard 42-120% on almonds and 50% on apples. Walnuts attract 100-120% obligation.

“We’re in the process of solving these issues… We have a team of negotiators doing that in Washington,” the official said.

The Commerce Department has been in discussions with stakeholders about reducing industrial tariffs in sectors where India has offensive interests and sectors with insignificant American imports.

India is also pondering the concessions of obligation to American cherries and cranberries, which are facing 30% import duties. New Delhi imported $614.5 million worth of almonds, $22.48 million worth of apples and $6.68 million worth of cranberries from the United States in November 2005.