The United States will not grant India any trade concessions, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau announced at the Raisina Dialogue in New Delhi on Thursday. He said Washington does not want to repeat the mistake it made two decades ago by giving China special trade privileges, which helped Beijing become a major rival. Landau emphasized that the Trump administration’s decision reflects a broader policy of using tariffs as a negotiation tool and prioritizing national interests.

Landau stated that while the U.S. values its economic relationship with India, it cannot offer unfair advantages, as both governments are accountable to their citizens. He confirmed that Washington and New Delhi agreed on an interim trade framework on February 6, set to take effect in April, imposing an 18 percent reciprocal tariff on several Indian goods. The U.S. had earlier announced a 50 percent tariff on Indian imports due to oil purchases from Russia but later withdrew the punitive portion after India accepted certain U.S. conditions.

Landau also urged India to diversify its energy sources amid supply disruptions linked to the Iran-Israel conflict, suggesting the U.S. could play a larger role in India’s energy security.