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The Indian rupee strengthened sharply during morning trade on Tuesday after New Delhi and Washington announced a long-awaited U.S.-India trade deal, sparking optimism across currency and financial markets. The development provided a significant boost to the Indian currency, which has faced sustained pressure over the past year due to global economic uncertainty and steep U.S. tariffs on Indian exports.
In early trading, the USD/INR pair, which measures how many rupees are required to buy one U.S. dollar, fell by as much as 1.5% to 90.128. This marked the rupee’s strongest level since mid-January and extended a pullback from its late-January peak, when the pair surged past a record high of 92.2. The sharp move reflects renewed investor confidence following the announcement of reduced U.S. tariffs on Indian goods.
According to officials, the trade agreement will see the United States slash tariffs on Indian exports to 18% from a previously elevated 50%. In return, India has agreed to lower select trade barriers and end its purchases of Russian oil. While the agreement’s broader framework and implementation timeline remain unclear, markets reacted positively to the headline news, viewing it as a step toward stabilizing trade relations between the two countries.
U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed the deal via a post on Truth.Social, while Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi also acknowledged the agreement publicly. Although neither leader disclosed detailed terms, the announcement alone was enough to lift sentiment around the Indian economy and the rupee.
The U.S. is one of India’s largest export destinations, making tariff reductions a meaningful positive for trade flows, corporate earnings, and overall economic growth. In recent months, high U.S. tariffs were widely seen as a drag on India’s export-driven sectors and a key factor behind rupee weakness.
Going forward, analysts expect the Indian rupee to remain sensitive to further updates on the trade deal, capital inflows, and global dollar trends. If the agreement is implemented smoothly, it could provide longer-term support to the rupee and improve the outlook for the Indian economy amid a challenging global environment.
