A delegation from India’s Commerce Ministry has arrived in Washington DC to begin a new round of negotiations on the proposed mini trade agreement between India and the United States.The talks, led by India’s deputy chief negotiator, will focus on the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA). India’s chief negotiator, Rajesh Agrawal, is expected to join the delegation by Wednesday. The four-day discussions are scheduled to conclude on Thursday.
Both sides are aiming to reach consensus on a range of issues, although several concessions remain under negotiation. India is seeking greater access for its labour-intensive exports, particularly in the leather and textile sectors.
On the other hand, the US is pushing for expanded market access for agricultural and dairy products, along with genetically modified crops.Earlier, the US President Donald Trump issued unilateral letters concerning tariff impositions to several countries, adding urgency to the current negotiations. Both India and the US hope to finalise the first tranche of the BTA by autumn 2025, targeting September or October for completion.
(Edited by : Ajay Vaishnav)
