India has raised strong concerns over the United States' proposed trade action linked to alleged forced labour practices. The government said the issue should be resolved through bilateral trade discussions instead of unilateral tariff measures. The proposed action involves an additional 12.5 per cent tariff under a US investigation into imports that are allegedly produced using forced labour.

Officials from the Commerce Ministry said India remains committed to working with the United States on the issue. They said the government will continue to engage with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) through constructive discussions. According to the officials, both countries can address the matter through the ongoing trade negotiations instead of imposing additional trade barriers.

India has also questioned the approach taken by the United States in its investigation. The government argued that the proposal contains several inconsistencies. Officials pointed out that the US has exempted several countries and products even though similar concerns have been raised in those cases. They said this weakens the overall basis of the proposed tariff action.

The government further stated that the investigation does not present a clear country-specific assessment. Officials said the US has not established a direct connection between India's policies and any harm caused to American businesses. They also questioned the decision to exclude nearly 1,600 products from the proposed measures. According to the government, the investigation does not clearly explain the reason behind these exemptions.

India has maintained that its existing legal framework already includes safeguards against forced labour. The government said it will continue to present its position before the US authorities. Officials expressed confidence that India's legal and regulatory measures provide protection against such practices.

The latest development comes at a time when India and the United States are holding negotiations for a broader bilateral trade agreement. Both countries aim to improve market access and strengthen their economic partnership through the proposed deal. India has stressed that trade-related issues should be settled through dialogue and established trade mechanisms instead of additional tariff measures.

The proposed tariff could affect several Indian exports to the United States, particularly products from labour-intensive industries. These sectors depend heavily on access to the American market and could face challenges if the tariff is introduced. The outcome of the ongoing consultations may therefore have a significant impact on Indian exporters.

Commerce Ministry officials said India remains committed to engaging constructively with the US Trade Representative (USTR) and believes the matter can be addressed through ongoing trade discussions between the two countries.

India has indicated that it will continue working towards a mutually acceptable solution with the United States. The government hopes to protect the positive momentum in bilateral trade relations while avoiding unnecessary disruptions for businesses in both countries. Discussions between the two sides are expected to continue in the coming weeks as they work towards resolving the issue through cooperation and dialogue.