Jaishankar Says India Will Be “Judicious” in Any Trade Deal With the US

By A Staff Reporter

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar on Saturday underscored that India will approach any potential trade agreement with the United States with utmost caution, prioritising the economic interests of its people above all else. Speaking on evolving dynamics in India–US trade negotiations, Jaishankar said each American administration brings its own style of engagement, and President Donald Trump’s approach is “radically different” from that of his predecessors.

“Every government, and certainly every American president, has their own way of approaching the world,” Jaishankar said. “In President Trump’s case, it is radically different, and he himself would acknowledge that.” He noted that India must recognise these shifts and respond with clarity about its own priorities.

Emphasising a people-first framework, the minister said India’s negotiating position would always be guided by the interests of workers, farmers, small businesses and the middle class. “At the end of the day, for us, the interests of workers, farmers, small businesses, and the middle class matter,” he said.

Jaishankar added that while India values its partnership with the United States, it will not rush into any agreement that compromises domestic economic stability or exposes vulnerable sectors to undue pressure. “When we consider a trade agreement with a country like the United States, we have to be extremely judicious about our position and about what we put on the table,” he said.