**Pakistani Economist Predicts Possible Tariff Relief for India After Trump–Putin Talks**
Islamabad/Washington: Pakistani economist Muqtedar Khan has expressed optimism that U.S. President Donald Trump may cancel additional tariffs on India following his upcoming meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin. He noted that trade discussions between New Delhi and Washington are still in progress and cautioned against considering Trump’s decision final at this stage.
Khan said the Trump–Putin talks are expected to take place before August 27 and may lead to Russia announcing a ceasefire. He revealed that U.S. Special Envoy Steve Wecoff had already met Putin and that the two sides had reached an understanding on key issues, with only a few minor matters left to be resolved after the leaders’ meeting.
He further argued that the additional tariffs on India offer no real benefit to the U.S. and highlighted Germany’s struggling economy, which is prompting Berlin to seek cheaper oil imports from Russia. He expressed hope that the U.S. and Russia would arrive at a pragmatic decision, possibly removing the extra tariffs.
Meanwhile, Trump announced via Truth Social that he and Putin will meet in Alaska on August 15. Ahead of that meeting, Trump is expected to hold discussions with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
The meeting, coinciding with India’s Independence Day, is being viewed as a significant diplomatic development. According to reports, the talks will focus on achieving a Russia–Ukraine ceasefire, with Trump proposing a land-swap arrangement in which both sides would cede some territory to end the war. While three previous peace negotiations have failed, global observers believe that if Russia accepts the proposal, Trump could make a favourable decision on the tariff issue — a move the international community is keenly watching.