India’s trade ties with the US are not comparable to those of Canada and Mexico, the government reportedly told the Parliamentary panel. Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal told the House panel that New Delhi is considering to reduce duties on items such as nuts among other things. Barthwal’s response to the parliamentary standing committee comes amid claims made by US President Donald Trump that India has ‘agreed to bring the tariffs way down’ The commerce secretary is also learnt to have said that any reduction on tariffs will be done bilaterally instead of just focusing on temporary duty tweaks. This is the first time the Centre has said something on the critical tariff negotiations. Trump has repeatedly said that the reciprocal tariffs will come in force from April 2. “They (India) has agreed to cut their tariffs way. down now because somebody is finally exposing them…,” the US President had said on March 7. The government had sought time till September this year, according to a Times of India report.