90-day pause window: High-stakes trade race, India banks on market muscle for early US deal

AS OVER 75 countries race to sign a trade deal with the US during the 90-day pause window to avert reciprocal tariffs, New Delhi is banking on its ability to replace third-country imports to the US, thereby helping to bridge the trade gap with Washington, a senior government official said. The official said that virtual discussions will begin this week, leading to broad clarity over the next six weeks — by the end of May — on what duty concessions can be offered by both sides, with the aim of signing a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by Fall as per…