Trump Tariff Threat Lands as US Trade Team Sits in Delhi

US team led by Brendan Lynch held four days of trade talks in Delhi from June 1-4, 2026.

USTR has proposed a 12.5% extra duty on India and 53 other economies under a Section 301 forced-labour probe.

The charge is about India lacking an import-ban law — not about Indian exports using forced labour.

Textiles, India's most exposed sector, face a proposed lower rate rather than the full 12.5%.

The threat is widely read as pressure tactics ahead of an interim deal; hearings run into July 2026.