President Donald Trump has been battling the fake news industry on many fronts, which is par for the course, mind you, but they’ve also been dumping all over his tariffs, claiming nothing good will come of them and that massive inflation and price increases for consumers are coming fast. But once again, Trump — the world-traveled billionaire businessman — has proven he knows what he’s doing, and the fake news media is just playing its role as a Democrat propaganda machine.
Officials from India, the second-most populous country on the planet, have put forward an ambitious new trade proposal during closed-door meetings in Washington—one that Trump allies are already touting as a significant win. According to sources familiar with the discussions who spoke to Bloomberg, India’s offer includes eliminating tariffs on U.S. imports of steel, auto parts, and pharmaceuticals, up to a negotiated volume, on the condition that the United States reciprocates. Once the agreed volume is exceeded, standard tariff rates would resume. Negotiators are aiming to finalize a deal as early as this fall.
The proposal emerged during high-level meetings late last month, as both countries work to finalize a bilateral agreement within a 90-day window while President Trump’s new tariff framework remains adjustable. The Trump administration has been urging trade partners to strike new deals or face higher duties under the “Liberation Day” tariffs, which were announced on April 2 and took effect on April 5.
On Sunday, President Trump hinted that new trade breakthroughs could be announced within days, suggesting significant progress behind the scenes. India now appears to be among the leading nations—alongside South Korea and Japan—responding to Trump’s push for more balanced trade relationships. The proposed zero-for-zero tariff model represents a sharp departure from India’s traditionally protectionist approach and signals a new willingness to engage with the U.S. on Trump’s terms. And no doubt this deal builds upon one discussed by Vice President JD Vance during his trip to see Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi last week.
The offer also features a possible compromise on India’s controversial Quality Control Orders (QCOs)—domestic regulations that U.S. officials have long criticized as opaque and discriminatory. Since 2014, the number of QCOs has surged from 14 to over 140, imposing stringent requirements on both domestic and international manufacturers. According to Bloomberg, India is now open to reassessing several of these standards, particularly in the chemical and medical device sectors, and is considering a mutual recognition agreement that would allow both countries to accept each other’s regulatory certifications.
During his first term, Trump had the U.S. economy humming and growing. During the 2024 campaign, he pledged to do even more — better trade deals, re-shoring American manufacturing, and ramping up foreign investment in the United States. By any measure, he’s delivering on those promises, as the Indian agreement in principle proves.
