US-India Trade Deal: Officials from both the United States and India are extensively working on a trade agreement between the two countries. In light of Trump's "reciprocal tariffs" policy, India is giving importance to a trade deal with the US. Meanwhile, reports suggest that the US is pressuring India to provide full market access to online retailers like Amazon and Walmart. According to the Financial Times on Tuesday, this pressure is being exerted through industry executives, lobbyists, and US government officials.

Amazon and Walmart-owned Flipkart are competing with major Indian retailers like Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Group for a level playing field. Washington is pushing New Delhi to allow greater access to India’s $125 billion e-commerce market.

Currently, India imposes restrictions on foreign-owned online retailers, including bans on holding inventory and direct sales to consumers. However, domestic players like Reliance face no such rules and are allowed to operate both online and offline retail. If Walmart and Amazon receive full market access in India, they could directly open stores and launch extensive retail networks across the country. The ongoing trade talks between India and the US are believed to cover a wide range of sectors including food, automobiles, and digital trade. So far, Amazon and Walmart have not commented on the current developments.