Indian officials had previously raised the prospect of higher import duties on more than 20 US goods if Trump dropped India from the program but there was no mention of that in the response. "India, like the US and other nations shall always uphold its national interest in these matters," the Indian government said in a statement issued through India's trade ministry. India is the biggest beneficiary of the GSP program. Twenty-four members of the US Congress sent the administration a letter on May 3 urging it not to terminate India's access to the GSP. A spokesman for India's opposition Congress Party, which took a drubbing in the general election, said the US move has "grave trade and economic implications" for India and demanded Modi issue a comprehensive statement addressing the problem.

Source: bd News24 June 01, 2019 16:18 UTC