Kamal Ghorui
India and the United States are making steady progress towards finalising a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement, with both sides indicating that only a few issues remain unresolved as fresh negotiations continue in Washington, DC.As quoted by news agency ANI, a senior US official said discussions between the administration of Donald Trump and New Delhi have been “positive and productive,” adding that talks are moving towards a finalised deal. “Most of it is almost done… There aren’t many loose ends left,” the official familiar with the negotiations said.
Final round of talks underway
The latest round of discussions involves senior representatives from both countries, reflecting growing momentum behind the proposed agreement. India’s delegation is led by Darpan Jain, additional secretary in the department of commerce, while the US side is headed by Brendan Lynch from the Office of the US trade representative (USTR).Officials said the current round will focus on ironing out the remaining gaps, with the bulk of the agreement already settled. While details remain undisclosed, expectations are rising that a formal announcement could come soon.
Push for market access and tariff alignment
The negotiations are part of broader efforts to reduce tariffs and expand bilateral trade between the two economies. Commerce minister Piyush Goyal said the first tranche of the deal is “almost finalised,” with India pushing for preferential market access in the US compared to competitors.The talks also follow a framework agreement announced earlier this year aimed at reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade, reinforcing commitments made during discussions between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Trump.
Momentum builds amid policy shifts
A delegation of Indian officials is in Washington from April 20 to 22 to advance the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement. The discussions come amid changes in US tariff policies, including a temporary 10% tariff introduced earlier this year, prompting both sides to revisit certain provisions.US ambassador to India Sergio Gor described the deal as a “win-win” for both nations, highlighting the significance of the ongoing negotiations.If finalised, the agreement would mark a major milestone in India-US economic ties, strengthening trade cooperation between the world’s largest economy and one of its fastest-growing major markets.
