U.S. Tariffs Loom Over Indian Exports as Trade Talks Stall
美國關稅壓力籠罩印度出口，貿易談判陷入停滯
India’s Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Saturday that trade negotiations with Washington are ongoing but warned that New Delhi has “red lines” it will defend, particularly to protect farmers and small producers. His remarks came just days before additional U.S. tariffs of up to 50% are set to hit Indian goods, following New Delhi’s increased purchases of Russian oil. A 25% levy is already in place, with the remaining 25% due from August 27, after U.S. negotiators cancelled a planned visit to New Delhi. Analysts estimate that the full impact could shave 0.8 percentage points off India’s economic growth both this year and next, with longer-term damage to its global manufacturing ambitions.
The tariffs, which Jaishankar described as a result of “unusual” U.S. policy under President Donald Trump, could have ripple effects for non-Indian companies as well. Global firms with supply chains tied to India may face cost pressures and market uncertainty, while competitors in regions like Southeast Asia or Latin America could gain trade advantages. The minister also pointed out that Washington’s focus on India’s Russian oil imports appeared inconsistent, as major buyers like China and the EU have not faced similar measures—highlighting geopolitical risks that multinationals must factor into investment and sourcing strategies.
小編點評：印度正面臨高達 50% 的美國出口關稅，原因是貿易談判停滯，以及美方對印度購買俄羅斯石油的關注。印度外交部長蘇杰生強調，新德里將堅守「紅線」，特別是保護農民與小型生產者。分析人士警告，關稅可能削弱印度的經濟成長與全球製造業雄心，同時使跨國公司承受更高成本與地緣政治的不確定性。
GST Council to Discuss Major Reforms, Two-Rate Structure Likely
GST 委員會將討論重大改革，可能推動雙稅率制度
The 56th meeting of the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Council, chaired by Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, will be held in New Delhi on September 3–4. The two-day deliberations are expected to focus on rate rationalisation, compensation cess and measures to improve compliance. An officers’ meeting on September 2 will prepare the groundwork for these discussions. The Centre has proposed a simpler two-rate GST structure of 5% and 18%, replacing the current four-rate system, while retaining a peak levy of 40% on luxury and sin goods.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has described the proposal as a “next-generation reform” to ease compliance and reduce disputes. The Council may also consider introducing an additional duty exceeding 40% on select items to compensate states after the withdrawal of the compensation cess. For multinational companies operating in India, these changes could significantly impact pricing strategies, supply chain costs and long-term investment decisions, making the outcome of the Council’s deliberations highly relevant for foreign investors.
小編點評：GST 委員會將於 9 月 3–4 日開會，討論重大改革，包括提議中的雙稅率制度（5% 與 18%），旨在簡化稅制遵循並減少爭議。潛在的變動—例如對部分品項徵收超過 40% 的額外稅，以彌補補償性附加費逐步取消後的缺口—可能對在印度營運的跨國企業的定價與投資策略帶來重大影響。
OpenAI to Open First India Office Amid Push to Become AI Hub
OpenAI 將在印度設立首個辦公室，助力成為 AI 樞紐
OpenAI is set to establish its first office in India later this year as part of a strategy to deepen its presence in its second-largest user market. CEO Sam Altman described the move as a “first step” in making advanced AI more accessible in India, where ChatGPT subscriptions were recently launched at a globally lowest price of ₹399 (US$4.57) per month. The plan aligns with New Delhi’s ambition to position the country as an artificial intelligence hub under the IndiaAI Mission, though industry experts caution that India must guard against becoming merely a source of data and low-cost talent for global tech firms.
While OpenAI has announced partnerships with IIT Madras, the All India Council for Technical Education and new educational initiatives, critics argue that India still lacks sufficient investment in AI education and research infrastructure. For multinational companies, the expansion signals both rising opportunities and sharper competition in the Indian AI market. It also underscores a broader trend of global AI firms turning to India for scale, talent and data — factors that will shape business models, regulatory debates and cross-border intellectual property issues in the years ahead.
小編點評：OpenAI 將於今年在印度設立首個辦公室，以擴大先進人工智慧的可及性，並支持新德里推動成為全球 AI 樞紐的努力。ChatGPT 訂閱目前已在印度以全球最低價格上線。雖然與 IIT Madras 與 AICTE 的合作展現出新機遇，但專家警告，印度必須加強在教育與基礎建設方面的投資，以避免淪為僅提供數據與低成本人才的角色。
China Lifts Export Curbs on Fertilizers, Rare Earths and TBMs to India
中國解除對印度化肥、稀土與隧道鑽掘機出口限制
In a major diplomatic breakthrough, China has lifted export restrictions on fertilizers, rare earth minerals and tunnel boring machines (TBMs) to India, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi confirmed during his August 18 visit to New Delhi. The decision, conveyed to External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, marks a step toward normalizing strained bilateral ties that had been tested by trade curbs and border tensions. The move is expected to stabilize India’s agriculture, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors, which had been hit hard since China imposed the restrictions in April 2025 amid escalating global trade wars.
The resumption of shipments comes as India grapples with punitive U.S. tariffs of up to 50% on its exports, creating a complex geopolitical backdrop. Industry watchers say China’s easing of curbs could prevent a potential 0.5–1% GDP loss for India by restoring critical supply chains. For non-Indian companies, the development is significant as it reduces supply chain volatility in sectors like electric vehicles, electronics, fertilizers and infrastructure projects where India is a growing market. It also signals a pragmatic shift in Sino-Indian ties that could reshape regional trade flows, with implications for global firms balancing exposure between the U.S., China and India.
小編點評：中國已解除對印度的化肥、稀土以及隧道鑽掘機出口限制，顯示雙邊關係趨於緩和，並為此前受限的關鍵產業帶來緩解。此舉正值美國對印度出口徵收高額關稅之際，有助於避免印度 GDP 損失 0.5–1%，並可能重塑區域貿易格局，對於在印度、中國與美國之間平衡供應鏈風險的跨國企業影響深遠。
India Prepares ‘Semicon 2.0’ to Deepen Chip Manufacturing Push
印度啟動「Semicon 2.0」，深化晶片製造推進
The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) has initiated work on Semicon 2.0, the next phase of India’s semiconductor programme, with consultations underway with the Ministry of Finance and other stakeholders. Confirming the move, MeitY Secretary S. Krishnan said the initiative will build on the momentum created under the first phase. The announcement comes just ahead of Semicon India 2025, to be held in Delhi from September 2–4 and inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Under Semicon 1.0, the government had committed nearly its full outlay of ₹76,000 crore, including ₹64,000 crore for chip fabs, ₹10,000 crore for a semiconductor lab, and ₹1,000 crore for the Design-Linked Incentive scheme. For multinational firms, Semicon 2.0 could offer fresh entry points as India widens incentives and expands into new parts of the semiconductor value chain. With India’s growing market and policy focus on self-reliance in chips, global players in fabrication, equipment, design and materials will find new opportunities for collaboration, investment and supply chain diversification.
小編點評：印度已啟動「Semicon 2.0」，以深化半導體發展，延續「Semicon 1.0」投入的 7,600 億盧比，包括 6,400 億盧比用於晶圓廠建設。這一新階段與即將舉行的「Semicon India 2025」高峰會相呼應，旨在擴大激勵措施並吸引全球企業參與晶片價值鏈，為合作、投資與供應鏈多元化創造新契機。
Automation, Robotics Key to India’s 2047 Developed Nation Vision
自動化與機器人為印度 2047 發展願景的關鍵
India’s path to becoming a developed nation by 2047 will rely heavily on decarbonisation, reducing imports, and scaling domestic capabilities in electronics and capital goods. Experts say automation and robotics are central to this transition, enhancing precision manufacturing, streamlining supply chains, and enabling clean-energy adoption. With smartphone exports rising rapidly, policymakers stress the need for India to move further up the value chain into chips, sensors, and high-precision machinery. A major push on upskilling India’s vast engineering workforce will be critical to sustaining this momentum.
Electronics are now the second-largest contributor to India’s import bill after crude oil, but unlike oil, this sector offers opportunities for domestic manufacturing. India’s recent success in smartphone assembly demonstrates this potential: electronics exports surged 47% in Q1 FY26 to USD 12.4 billion, making them the fastest-growing export category after petroleum products. For multinational companies, India’s automation drive and electronics push create both opportunities for investment in advanced manufacturing and competition in global supply chains, as the country seeks to position itself as a key hub in next-generation technology production.
小編點評：印度 2047 發展中國家願景的核心，在於自動化、機器人及電子與資本財的國內製造，伴隨智慧型手機出口快速成長，突顯印度向價值鏈上游邁進的潛力。隨著電子產品成為主要進口類別，推動精密製造與工程人才培訓將為全球企業帶來投資機會，同時加劇先進科技領域的競爭。
India Unveils First-of-Its-Kind Digital Diplomacy Center at TRIPS Conference
印度在 TRIPS 會議上揭幕首個「數位外交中心」
At the recently concluded TRIPS conference held at IIT Kanpur and jointly hosted with the Indian National Science Academy, India formally inaugurated its Digital Diplomacy Center—a pioneering initiative designed to redefine how nations, leaders, and citizens engage in the digital age. The high-profile gathering featured leading voices from academia, industry, and government—including the Prime Minister’s Scientific Advisor and top IIT deans—and underscored the need to move beyond conventional statecraft toward a model shaped by algorithms, innovation ecosystems, and digital sovereignty.
Positioned at the crossroads of international affairs and technology, the Digital Diplomacy Center aims to provide changemakers with the platforms, training and dialogue spaces necessary to navigate the emerging dynamics of “neopolitics”—where power increasingly stems from digital capacity rather than territorial reach. The center seeks to elevate India’s role from participant to shaper in global digital governance, focusing on cyber norms, AI governance, responsible innovation, and inclusive digital cooperation. For multinational organisations and foreign governments, India’s launch of this center signals a growing opportunity to engage with a new global platform for digital diplomacy. The initiative offers a partnership avenue in shaping emerging cyber norms and AI policy frameworks, especially as nations grapple with digital governance, sovereignty, and innovation-led influence. It further positions India as a convenor of international discourse in digital geopolitics, offering a potential bridge between advanced economies and Global South nations.
小編點評：印度在 TRIPS 會議上正式啟動「數位外交中心」，旨在透過數位主權、人工智慧治理與創新驅動的外交模式，重新塑造全球互動。該中心定位為先進經濟體與全球南方之間的橋樑，為跨國企業與各國政府提供一個新平台，參與新興的網路規範與數位政策制定。