Washington, DC [US], December 11 (ANI): India and the United States are moving forward in negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement, with both sides expressing optimism about reaching a mutually beneficial deal. The latest round of discussions took place on Wednesday in New Delhi, where Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal met U.S. Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer to review ongoing trade and economic cooperation.
According to the Department of Commerce, the meeting focused on strengthening India–US trade ties and advancing negotiations aimed at boosting bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. In a statement posted on X, the Ministry noted that both sides exchanged views on key issues shaping the trade relationship.
A major focus of the talks has been resolving tariff-related challenges. The U.S. has imposed duties on several Indian exports—such as textiles, chemicals, and shrimp—linked to India’s imports of Russian oil. India is seeking relief from these measures, while the United States is pressing for reduced tariffs and non-tariff barriers for American goods, particularly agricultural products like soybeans and grain sorghum.
Earlier in the day, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri also met Switzer to discuss the broader economic and technology partnership between the two countries. The Ministry of External Affairs highlighted ongoing trade negotiations and opportunities to strengthen supply chain resilience.
Switzer is on a two-day visit to India from December 10 to 11, during which several rounds of talks are being held. Commerce Secretary Agrawal recently stated at the FICCI Annual General Meeting that he remained “very optimistic and very hopeful” about finding a solution within the current calendar year.
Negotiations have made substantial progress, though earlier timelines—such as concluding the first tranche by fall 2025—were delayed following new U.S. trade policy developments, including tariffs introduced by President Donald Trump on Indian goods.
India currently has 14 Free Trade Agreements and six Preferential Trade Agreements with global partners and is also pursuing fresh trade pacts, including an ongoing negotiation with the European Union.
328 words, 2 minutes read time
About The Author
