New Delhi: An Indian delegation is set to travel to Washington next week with the objective of resolving outstanding issues ahead of the formal initiation of negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between India and the United States. This move follows a recent visit by a senior US trade team to India, highlighting the accelerating momentum in discussions toward a comprehensive trade pact.
India’s chief negotiator, Rajesh Agrawal, who serves as Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, is expected to lead this Indian team for the forthcoming face-to-face talks, marking the first of their kind between the two nations. These discussions come on the heels of high-level talks held last month in New Delhi, where Brendan Lynch, the US Assistant Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, engaged in substantive trade dialogues with Indian officials.
The primary focus of the upcoming Washington visit is to address and smooth over differences on key trade issues prior to launching the official negotiation rounds. Both countries are eager to capitalize on the recent 90-day tariff pause declared by US President Donald Trump, which temporarily suspends certain tariffs to foster a conducive environment for trade talks.
Notably, India and the US have already finalized and signed the terms of reference (ToRs), which outline the scope, objectives, and framework for negotiations on the trade agreement. The two governments are targeting to complete the initial phase of the pact by the fall of 2025, aiming to boost bilateral trade significantly—more than doubling current trade volumes from approximately USD 191 billion to USD 500 billion by the end of the decade.
On specific trade sectors, the US is pressing for tariff reductions in areas such as industrial goods, electric vehicles, wines, petrochemicals, dairy products, and certain agricultural items like apples and tree nuts. Conversely, India seeks concessions primarily in labor-intensive industries including textiles, apparel, gems and jewelry, leather, plastics, and horticulture products. These sectoral negotiations reflect both countries’ efforts to balance economic interests and promote mutual trade expansion.
