India vowed on Thursday to protect its labour-intensive agriculture sector, a central sticking point in bogged-down trade talks with the U.S., as Washington threatened 25% tariffs, triggering outrage from the opposition and a slump in the rupee.

India and the US have held several rounds of negotiations for a trade deal over the past few months, with Delhi even reducing tariffs on goods like Bourbon whiskey and motorcycles to placate the US. But the US runs a $45bn (£33bn) trade deficit with India, which Trump is keen to reduce.

The president said Wednesday that imports from India would be subject to a 25 percent tariff as of Friday, as trade talks between the countries hit a stumbling block.