India-US Trade Deal: Ex-US Trade Rep Mark Linscott Hails Pact Linking World’s Top Economies

Mark Linscott’s reaction to the India US trade pact captures the turning point in a negotiation defined by pressure, pauses, and persistence. Calling the deal a major breakthrough, the former assistant US Trade Representative said he felt genuine relief when tariffs on Indian exports were cut to 18 percent, ending months of uncertainty. Linscott explained that negotiators on both sides had done the groundwork long ago but talks derailed over Russian oil and other political sensitivities, making leader to leader intervention inevitable. He credited Prime Minister Modi and President Trump for recognising the momentum and acting decisively. While acknowledging that Trump’s trade policy relied heavily on threats, reciprocal tariffs, and controlled chaos, Linscott said such tactics were a reality of the process. He underlined the economic logic of closer ties between the US, the world’s largest economy, and India, soon to be the third largest. Describing the agreement as an interim Phase One deal, he warned that deeper negotiations still lie ahead.