Daijiworld Media Network – New Delhi
New Delhi, Dec 13: India has offered the United States a revised “final” trade proposal, with its immediate priority being the removal of the additional 25 per cent tariffs imposed over India’s purchase of Russian oil, two sources have confirmed.
According to the latest submission, India has proposed to “immediately” remove tariffs on imports such as walnuts, almonds, apples and certain industrial goods. However, these concessions are part of a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement, while New Delhi is currently focused on securing relief from the additional 25 per cent penalty tariff.
A US delegation led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer was in New Delhi for two days until December 12. At present, the United States levies a total 50 per cent tariff on imports from India, comprising a 25 per cent reciprocal tariff and a further 25 per cent penalty linked to India’s import of Russian oil.
“India has offered the US team a revised deal. This is the final offer that India can make,” a senior government official familiar with the negotiations said on condition of anonymity, citing the sensitivity of the discussions.
The official said the government’s focus has shifted to removing the Russia-related penalty. “Indian exporters have told the government that they can manage with a 25 per cent tariff since the lowest global tariff is around 19 per cent, but a 50 per cent tariff is severely hurting them,” the official added.
Two days ago, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer told the US Senate Appropriations Committee that India was a “tough nut to crack”, but acknowledged that the offers made by New Delhi were the “best we’ve ever received as a country”.
Another official said Indian exporters are currently retaining overseas buyers by absorbing the higher tariffs themselves, as losing customers and trying to win them back later would be more costly. However, this strategy is significantly impacting their profit margins.
“They have appealed very sincerely to the government to at least address the additional 25 per cent tariff, and that is why the government is pushing strongly on this issue,” the official said.
The revised offer includes India’s proposal to immediately eliminate tariffs on tree nuts such as almonds and walnuts, apples, industrial goods and items like luxury motorcycles, in exchange for the US withdrawing the additional 25 per cent penalty tariff. “The negotiators on both sides have broadly done what they can. The ball is now in President Trump’s court,” the official added.
This was reflected in Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal’s statement in Mumbai on Thursday, where he said that Mr Switzer’s visit was not “centred around negotiations”.
Meanwhile, data analysis shows that India had already begun reducing its dependence on Russian oil before the US imposed the penalty tariffs in August. Government trade data indicates that in October 2025, India’s imports of Russian oil fell by 38 per cent in value and 31 per cent in volume compared to the same month last year. Over the 12 months leading up to October 2025, India reduced its Russian oil imports in nine months.