New Delhi, Feb. 27 -- Amid concerns over former US President Donald Trump's proposed tariff hikes, a new opportunity may be emerging for India. Rather than merely disrupting trade flows, higher US tariffs could accelerate structural reforms in India's export basket-shifting it decisively toward technology-oriented industries with higher value addition and away from traditional, low-value segments.

In this evolving trade calculus, calibrated relaxation of import tariffs on select US products-particularly in non-cereal agriculture and wines-in exchange for lower reciprocal tariffs on India's electronics and pharmaceutical exports may not be a bad bargain. The challenge, however, lies in balancing domestic sensitivities with strategic trade...