Overview

• The US is urging India to remove regulatory restrictions that currently limit foreign e-commerce firms like Amazon and Walmart to marketplace roles.
• India’s rules allow domestic players, such as Reliance, to hold inventory and sell directly, creating an uneven playing field, according to US officials.
• A potential 26% tariff on Indian exports has been paused for 90 days by President Trump to facilitate ongoing trade discussions.
• US Vice President JD Vance met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, with both sides acknowledging progress in the talks, which also cover sectors like energy and defense.
• Indian stakeholders, including the Confederation of All India Traders, have expressed concerns about the impact of market liberalization on the country’s 90 million small traders.