For a look at the wider implications of the US India trade deal, we bring in Nisha Biswal, former US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs. She oversaw the US India Strategic Partnership, including the launch of an annual Strategic and Commercial Dialogue. Nisha, good to have you with us.We heard Shruti saying it is a win win. Are you confident. It is.I mean, the skeptic in me says perhaps it's just smoke and mirrors. Well, Haslinda, I think this is a moment that we have been wait ...

🇮🇳 NOW: Trump says he reached a U.S.–India trade deal lowering U.S. reciprocal tariffs from 25% to 18%.He also said Prime Minister Modi agreed to reduce tariffs and non-tariff barriers to zero, buy over $500B in U.S. goods, and stop buying Russian oil. https://t.co/SLjMFbUOaz ...

Investment Strategy & Market Outlook - Initially holding 95% in cash, the portfolio is now 50% cash due to high market valuations [1][3] - Cash is considered "king" currently, with plans for aggressive buying during market corrections [2] - Holding cash provides a 4-5% interest rate from U S Treasuries, making it a safe and attractive option [3] - Emerging markets are showing promise, keeping pace with the US market in the last year [3][4] - Trade negotiations are expected to conclude in the next 4-5 months, potentially boosting emerging markets [4] Regional Investment Opportunities - Japan presents opportunities with good earnings, low price-earnings ratios, and growth, despite the Bank of Japan's policy rate of about 0 5% and inflation around 2 7% [5] - India and Taiwan are also promising markets, despite facing high tariffs from the US administration [6] - India's self-contained market and trade restrictions mitigate the impact of tariffs [7][8] - Consumer companies, airlines, and telecoms (e g Bharti Airtel) in India are attractive investment sectors [9] Risks & Uncertainties - Tariffs have negatively impacted market sentiment, raising concerns about higher inflation and poor earnings for import/export-dependent companies [14] - The ultimate impact of tariffs remains uncertain, with potential legal challenges in US federal courts [15] - Competition in the tech sector, particularly in AI, poses a significant risk to tech investments [25][26]

Trade Negotiations & Agreements - The US is pursuing bilateral trade deals instead of multilateral ones, marking a new approach to global trade [6][7] - A trade deal with Vietnam is imminent and is considered a significant win for American farmers and manufacturers, incentivizing domestic production over routing through China [2][3] - The Vietnam deal opens up the Vietnamese market in unprecedented ways [2] - Negotiations with Japan are ongoing, with anticipated announcements before July 9th, indicating progress in trade relations [5] - The US is seeking reciprocity in trade, addressing non-tariff barriers that hinder access for US manufacturers and farmers to foreign markets [9] - The willingness of countries to lower non-tariff barriers influences the US's tariff considerations [10] Tariffs & Trade Policy - The US may impose tariffs on countries that do not present trade deals facilitating negotiations [13][14] - The specific details of export rates with Vietnam will be released in an upcoming statement [4] China Trade Relations - Negotiations with China continue regarding the framework established in Geneva and the UK [11] - The US is urging China to accelerate access to rare earth magnets, as agreed upon in previous negotiations [11]