Ajay Srivastava

Ajay Srivastava, founder of Global Trade Research Initiative, is an ex-Indian Trade Service officer with expertise in WTO and FTA negotiations.

US Slaps 126% Duty on Indian Solar Exports, Subsidised Parts From China Under Lens

Even if India redesigns its incentive programmes, exporters that rely on Chinese inputs may still face countervailing duties.

Ajay Srivastava

February 25, 2026 at 4:16 PM IST

iStock.com

India Must Reassess US Trade Deal After Tariff Ruling

Opinion

Sweeping tariffs are harder to impose now. Legal options exist, but they are slower, more limited, and vulnerable to legal challenge.

Ajay Srivastava

February 21, 2026 at 7:19 AM IST

Kremlin

Rising Imports and Costly Supply Chains Squeeze India’s Apple Economy

India’s apple economy is at a crossroads. Imports, now equal to roughly one-fifth of domestic production, will likely expand further.

Ajay Srivastava

February 17, 2026 at 5:07 AM IST

iStock.com

Washington Extracts Its Pound of Flesh from Dhaka

In exchange for a narrow and conditional promise of zero-duty access for garments made with US fibres, Bangladesh has agreed to open its market widely to the US.

Ajay Srivastava

February 10, 2026 at 4:20 PM IST

iStock.com

Tariff Relief for India, Tariff and Strategic Gains for the United States

India has agreed to align more closely with the US on economic security, potentially constraining its freedom to trade with third countries and tying its policies to US sanctions and geopolitical priorities.

Ajay Srivastava

February 7, 2026 at 12:37 PM IST

White House

Modi–Trump Tariff Deal Sounds Big, But Trade Details Remain Unclear

Trump and Modi tout tariff cuts and mega purchases, but numbers, coverage and timelines are fuzzy, making the pact more signal than a settled deal.

Ajay Srivastava

February 3, 2026 at 1:08 AM IST

White House

India Lowers Import Barriers Where It Matters Most

Budget 2026

India’s Budget, though country-neutral, improves market access prospects for US exporters across several high-value sectors.

Ajay Srivastava

February 1, 2026 at 10:14 AM IST

iStock.com

India–EU FTA Anchors Ties, But CBAM Remains the Elephant in the Room

The EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism remains outside the deal, creating a structural imbalance.

Ajay Srivastava

January 27, 2026 at 11:32 AM IST

PMO

India Faces Higher EU Tariffs as GSP Suspension Hits 87% of Exports

While there is optimism over the conclusion of the India–EU Free Trade Agreement, Indian exporters will, in reality, confront higher trade barriers in the near term

Ajay Srivastava

January 23, 2026 at 10:23 AM IST

Istock.com

India and Trump’s Gaza Peace Board: A Risky Invitation

Opinion

The US-dominated structure offers little clarity on Gaza’s future governance, borders or sovereignty.

Ajay Srivastava

January 20, 2026 at 12:06 PM IST

Jaber Jehad Badwan/Via WikiCommons

Greenland’s Lesson for India: US Trade Deals Don’t Guarantee Protection

In a volatile global order, restraint, diversification and sovereign decision-making matter more than promises that can be withdrawn overnight.

Ajay Srivastava

January 18, 2026 at 6:00 AM IST

Jens Cederskjold/ Via Wikicommons

Don’t Miss the Window to Overhaul Tariffs and Customs to Boost Trade

Budget 2026

None of the reforms will succeed in isolation. Implemented together, they could lower trade costs, attract investment and position customs as a facilitator rather than a bottleneck. But the policy window is narrow.

Ajay Srivastava

January 18, 2026 at 4:05 AM IST

iStock.com

Why Blaming a Missed Call Won’t Explain the India–US Trade Impasse

Trade deals of this scale hinge on unresolved policy differences—on tariffs, agriculture, digital trade and regulatory autonomy—not on symbolic gestures.

Ajay Srivastava

January 9, 2026 at 2:57 PM IST

White House

Why Steel Sector Protection Must be Reviewed

Opinion

The CCI has reportedly found evidence of cartelisation by steel producers, but is yet to issue a final order. Downstream industries though have already paid the price.

Ajay Srivastava

January 8, 2026 at 9:32 AM IST

iStock.com

India, the World’s Largest Silver Importer, Must not Ignore Processing

India should recognise silver as a critical industrial and energy-transition metal, not merely a precious commodity, and integrate it into its minerals and clean-energy strategy.

Ajay Srivastava

January 7, 2026 at 8:51 AM IST

iStock.com

Venezuela Shock: Capture of Oil Reserves Core Issue, India Remains Unaffected

India was a major buyer of Venezuelan crude in the 2000s and 2010s, but bilateral engagement has weakened sharply since 2019 due to US sanctions.

Ajay Srivastava

January 4, 2026 at 5:59 AM IST

US Government/Via Wikicommons

Import Barriers on Metallurgical Coke Are Raising the Cost of Making Steel in India

Opinion

Over the past 1 year, India has progressively tightened controls on LAM Coke imports through safeguard measures, quantitative restrictions, and provisional anti-dumping duties, creating a double barrier on both volumes and prices.

Ajay Srivastava

December 28, 2025 at 4:42 AM IST

India’s Exports Face a Hard 2026 Despite FTA Push

India must urgently review the performance of its FTAs—sector by sector—to ensure they are actually expanding exports, integrating Indian firms into global value chains, and delivering measurable trade gains rather than remaining under-utilised diplomatic trophies.

Ajay Srivastava

December 25, 2025 at 6:48 AM IST

iStock.com

The Opportunity Hidden in New Zealand’s Import Basket

India’s exports remain small even in products where it is a major global supplier and New Zealand imports heavily, often sourcing from China instead.

Ajay Srivastava

December 24, 2025 at 8:41 AM IST

India’s China Trade: Volatile Exports, Rising Import Dependence

India’s exports to China surged 90% in November 2025. What’s behind the numbers?

Ajay Srivastava

December 21, 2025 at 9:59 AM IST

iStock.com

The Bureau

Bears Dominate Dalal Street, Equities Log Decline Led by Financials

Pakistan Bombs Afghan Cities, Minister Says it is ‘Open War’: Reports

Risk Appetite Wavers After Nvidia Slide and Iran Talks Stall

SEBI Overhauls Mutual Fund Categories, Ends Solution-Oriented Plans

Stablecoins Are Raising New Risks for Emerging Markets

FTA Revival and Uranium Deal Could Define Carney’s Visit: GTRI

US Slaps 126% Duty on Indian Solar Exports, Subsidised Parts From China Under Lens

Duvvuri Subbarao on India’s Growth, Inflation Targeting and Centre–State Faultlines

Learning to Shoot: I Tried to Fly Before I Could Walk