Rajesh Agrawal Appointed as Commerce Secretary Amid US-India Trade Tensions and 50% Trump Tariffs

Mr Agrawal assumes his role during a challenging period as Trump tariffs have significantly disrupted global trade patterns.

New Delhi:

Senior IAS officer Rajesh Agrawal officially took charge as Secretary of the Department of Commerce on Wednesday, according to an official statement released.

He succeeds Sunil Barthwal, who completed his tenure on September 30.

With three decades of administrative experience, Mr Agrawal brings extensive expertise in governance, policy formulation, and implementation across various sectors including skilling, power, fertilizer, agriculture, and MSMEs.

Before this appointment, he was responsible for overseeing India's trade negotiations with multiple countries under free trade agreements.

Mr Agrawal served as the chief negotiator for several important trade agreements, including the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement, Indo-Pacific Economic Forum, India-Australia CECA, and the review of the ASEAN FTA.

He was also responsible for promoting exports in the agriculture and allied sectors.

Mr Agrawal's appointment comes at a critical juncture when Trump tariffs have created significant disruptions in global trade.

The United States has implemented substantial 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods entering US markets.

Both nations have been engaged in bilateral trade agreement negotiations since March, with five rounds of discussions already completed.

As chief negotiator for this agreement, Mr Agrawal worked alongside Deputy Chief Negotiator Darpan Jain, who serves as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce.

The US tariffs are particularly affecting India's exports in labor-intensive sectors, including shrimp, gems and jewelry, and textiles.

India's exports increased by 6.7 percent to USD 35.1 billion in August on an annual basis, while imports decreased by 10.12 percent to USD 61.59 billion.

In response to the challenges posed by the 50 percent US tariffs on Indian shipments, the RBI announced various measures on Wednesday to assist exporters in navigating these difficult circumstances.