INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
imposition of retaliatory duties on US goods, the trade ministry said on Thursday, to allow time to resolve disputes that worsened after
President Donald Trump imposed tariff hikes on steel and aluminium.In June, New Delhi, incensed by Washington's refusal to exempt it from
these new tariffs, announced it would raise import tax on some US products including almonds, walnuts and apples.A commerce ministry
spokesman said the government proposed to put the new tariffs, which were due to go into effect on August 4, on hold.Trade differences
between India and the United States have been rising since Trump took office
Bilateral trade rose to $115 billion in 2016, but the Trump administration wants to reduce its $31 billion deficit with India, and is
pressing New Delhi to ease trade barriers."The Ministry of Commerce has suggested to the department of revenue to amend the notification for
further extension of retaliatory measures for 45 days," Monideepa Mukherjee, spokeswoman for the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, told
Reuters.India bought more than half all US almond shipments in 2017 and a US trade body had said New Delhi's plan to impose higher duties
was a matter of concern.India has proposed to buy petroleum products from the US to help narrow the trade deficit
The United States has also emerged as a top arms supplier to India and US companies are bidding for military aircraft deals worth billions
