India Eases Digital Tax To Soothe U.S. Trade Tensions

India will abolish its 6% digital advertisement tax, benefiting U.S. tech giants like Google, Meta, and Amazon. This move aims to alleviate U.S. trade concerns following Trump's reciprocal tariff threats. The decision coincides with trade deal discussions and aims to promote two-way trade by 2030.

In a significant move aimed at easing international trade tensions, India has decided to abolish a 6% tax on digital advertisements, a relief for major U.S. technology companies such as Google, Meta, and Amazon. The change, announced by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, aims to address concerns raised by Washington after President Donald Trump previously threatened reciprocal tariffs on trading partners, including India.

Speaking in the lower house of parliament, Sitharaman introduced the amendment to the 2025 Finance Bill, which removes the controversial equalization levy. The government's decision to scrap the tax takes effect on April 1, a source reported, coinciding with India’s ongoing diplomatic efforts to finalize a phase one trade deal with the U.S., potentially boosting trade to $500 billion by 2030.

The U.S. delegation, led by Brendan Lynch, is currently in India for discussions, as both countries seek to ease bilateral trade tensions potentially stemming from India's digital tax. By abolishing the tax, India hopes to alleviate U.S. trade concerns, as noted by tax expert Amit Maheshwari, while continuing diplomatic talks to soften the U.S. stance further.

(With inputs from agencies.)