The United States could reach a trade deal with India that would help American companies compete in the South Asian country and leave it facing far lower tariffs, President Donald Trump said on Tuesday,

(Reuters) -The U.S. and India are nearing a deal to lower tariffs on American imports to the South Asian country and to help India avoid levies imposed by the Trump administration rising sharply next week, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Tuesday.

India is on track to seal an interim trade agreement with the US as soon as this week to avert Donald Trump’s “liberation day” tariffs, according to two people briefed on the talks. The interim deal,