Both countries plan to negotiate a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement. Both countries would focus on increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and enhancing supply chain integration. The response comes weeks after Trump announced that US will impose reciprocal tarifffs on nations that impose levies on American goods. Earlier, India clarified that it has not committed to lowering the tariffs and refuted claims by Trump that the Modi government agreed to lower import duties. The US issued Memorandum on Reciprocal Trade and Tariffs on February 13, wherein the Secretary of Commerce and United States Trade Representative are to take necessary actions to investigate harm to America from any non-reciprocal trade arrangements adopted by trading partners and provide a report with detailed proposed remedies for each trading partner. The tariffs are expected to come into force on April 2, the commerce ministry said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha, Jitin Prasada said in response to a question from a member of Parliament.