A US delegation will visit New Delhi on August 25 for the sixth round of negotiations on the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), government sources said.
The talks come as India and the US work to finalise an interim trade deal ahead of the looming August 1 deadline, when the suspension of US-imposed tariffs is set to expire.
The fifth round of discussions concluded last week in Washington, led by India’s chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal and US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch.
Both sides are aiming to wrap up the first tranche of the BTA by September-October, with key issues, including tariff relief on steel, aluminium, autos, and duty concessions for labour-intensive Indian exports, on the agenda.
Also Read: No interim US-India trade deal yet; Indian exporters brace for 20-25% tariffs as August 1 deadline nears
However, negotiations remain tense over US demands for access to India’s agriculture and dairy markets, sectors New Delhi has traditionally protected. Farmers’ groups have also urged the government to exclude agriculture from the pact.
India, in turn, is pushing for the removal of a 26% additional tariff and wants better access for sectors like textiles, leather, chemicals, and some agricultural products.
Also Read: RBI revises AIF investment norms for banks and NBFCs: Stricter caps from Jan 2026
