New Delhi: India on Friday said its ongoing negotiations with the United States for a bilateral trade agreement have remained positive and constructive, reflecting steady progress towards strengthening economic ties between the two countries.
The latest round of discussions took place during a visit by a delegation from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) to India from June 1 to 4. The meetings were aimed at advancing talks on an interim trade agreement that both nations have been working on since announcing a framework for reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade earlier this year.
Speaking at a weekly media briefing, External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the discussions had been productive and that both countries remained committed to carrying the interim trade agreement and broader bilateral trade partnership forward.
According to the Commerce Ministry, negotiators engaged in detailed discussions covering a wide range of issues, including trade in goods, non tariff measures, customs procedures, trade facilitation, economic security cooperation and several other areas of mutual interest.
The talks were led by chief negotiators from both sides, with Brendan Lynch heading the US delegation and Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, representing India.
The proposed agreement is expected to enhance market access, streamline trade processes and deepen economic cooperation between the two countries. It also forms part of a broader effort to expand commercial engagement and address trade related concerns through structured negotiations.
The latest discussions come amid growing optimism over the deal’s completion. Last week, US Ambassador Sergio Gor indicated that only a small number of issues remain unresolved, suggesting that the agreement could be nearing its final stage.
With both governments expressing confidence in the progress made so far, the negotiations are expected to continue in the coming weeks as India and the United States work towards concluding a mutually beneficial trade arrangement.
