India-US Trade Deal Nears Final Stage
India and the United States are nearing the final stages of negotiations on an interim trade agreement, but US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has cautioned that no announcement is imminent as both sides continue working through the remaining sticking points.
India-US Trade Deal Nears Final Stage
Greer said the negotiations were in the “short strokes”, indicating that the two countries had narrowed the range of unresolved issues substantially.
He said Washington and New Delhi had identified the remaining areas of disagreement and were continuing discussions aimed at completing the agreement.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also held talks with Greer on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee, with both sides describing the engagement as constructive.
Trump and PM Modi May Speak Again Soon
Greer said US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi could hold another conversation soon to review progress on the negotiations.
The two leaders had already spoken on September 30 and discussed bilateral cooperation across trade, defence, energy and critical technologies.
Their latest engagement comes as negotiators attempt to finalise an interim arrangement before moving ahead with the broader India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement.
Tariffs Remain Key Issue in India-US Talks
India and the US announced a framework for an interim trade pact in February. The framework included an 18% reciprocal US tariff on qualifying Indian goods and Indian commitments to reduce or eliminate duties on a range of American industrial and agricultural products.
Negotiations also cover non-tariff barriers, rules of origin, digital trade, supply-chain security and market access.
Goyal has said the agreement is close to completion but India is seeking a competitive tariff position relative to rival exporters before signing.
