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With a high level US delegation in New Delhi and Indian officials pushing to finalise the first segment of a long pending trade pact, both nations are moving closer to resolving tariff barriers and expanding bilateral commerce to unprecedented levels.
India confirms steady progress toward a bilateral trade agreement.
New Delhi: The latest round of India US trade discussions has drawn major attention as officials from the United States arrived in New Delhi for crucial conversations on a proposed bilateral trade agreement. The Commerce and Industry Minister stated that talks have been progressing consistently and the two sides are moving steadily toward shaping the long discussed pact. He hinted that he may meet the visiting team during their stay in the capital.
A delegation headed by the Deputy United States Trade Representative Rick Switzer is holding talks with his Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal. Alongside this, the lead American negotiator Brendan Lynch is scheduled to meet his Indian counterpart Darpan Jain for detailed exchanges on key elements of the agreement. The presence of these senior officials signals the seriousness with which both countries are approaching the upcoming phases of negotiation.
This visit carries added weight as India and the United States are working toward finalising the first tranche of the pact. It marks the second trip by United States officials since the imposition of a twenty five percent tariff and an additional twenty five percent penalty on Indian goods entering the American market due to India’s purchase of Russian crude oil. The previous visit took place in mid September, followed by the Commerce Minister leading an official delegation to the United States later that month.
Recent remarks from Indian officials underline the hope that a framework trade deal may be concluded within the year. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal has emphasised that such a framework will address tariff related challenges faced by Indian exporters. While a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement will require more time, the framework deal is expected to provide immediate relief by softening tariff barriers and establishing a foundation for the larger pact.
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India and the United States are currently engaged in two parallel negotiation tracks. One centres on a framework deal that seeks to address reciprocal tariffs, while the other focuses on a broader and more comprehensive trade agreement. Both sides have been working intensively since February, when leaders of the two nations instructed officials to pursue an agreement and complete the first portion by the fall of twenty twenty five.
So far, six rounds of negotiations have taken place. The overarching ambition is to more than double bilateral trade to five hundred billion dollars by twenty thirty from the current one hundred ninety one billion. This long term objective reflects the growing economic synergy between the two countries and their shared commitment to overcoming trade barriers.
For the fourth straight year, the United States has remained India’s largest trading partner. During the twenty twenty four to twenty twenty five period, the two way trade stood at over one hundred thirty one billion dollars, with exports from India contributing eighty six and a half billion dollars. The United States accounts for a significant share of India’s overall exports, imports and merchandise trade.
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Exporters have expressed concern over the persistent decline in shipments to the United States, with October marking an eight percent drop due to steep tariffs imposed by Washington. A timely agreement is therefore essential to easing market access challenges and ensuring that Indian products remain competitive in the American market. The ongoing discussions in New Delhi may help shape a more stable and growth oriented trade relationship.
