New Delhi (TDI): India and the United States are on the verge of concluding the first phase of a long-awaited trade agreement, with New Delhi saying negotiations are almost complete as officials from both countries continue talks in the Indian capital.
A US delegation led by Brendan Lynch, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday for three days of discussions aimed at resolving the remaining issues before the deal is finalized.
Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said negotiations were nearly complete, estimating that around 99 percent of outstanding matters had already been resolved.
According to Goyal, negotiators are currently focused on technical and legal details, including adjustments required after recent developments in the United States legal system. He expressed confidence that both sides would soon sign the first tranche of the bilateral agreement before moving on to discussions for a broader and more comprehensive trade framework.
India and the United States first reached a preliminary understanding on the trade deal in February, but progress slowed after a series of tariff-related developments in Washington. Following a ruling by the US Supreme Court that affected key elements of President Donald Trump’s tariff policies, the administration launched investigations into what it described as unfair trade practices by several countries, including India, while maintaining a blanket 10 percent tariff.
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Despite those challenges, officials on both sides have continued negotiations. Last week, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said he expected an interim agreement to be signed within the coming weeks.
Washington and New Delhi have set an ambitious goal of increasing bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Since March, negotiators have held multiple rounds of discussions to address longstanding differences over tariffs, market access, and trade regulations.
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Indian officials maintain that the agreement safeguards sensitive domestic sectors such as dairy and agriculture while creating new opportunities for Indian exporters to access the vast American market. If finalized, the deal would mark a significant step forward in economic ties between the world’s largest and most populous democracies.
