US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will hold multiple meetings with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal in New Delhi this week as both sides push to finalise an interim trade pact….reports Asian Lite News Desk
India and the United States are set to accelerate negotiations on a proposed bilateral trade agreement, with senior officials from both countries meeting in New Delhi this week in a bid to resolve outstanding issues and move closer to an interim trade pact.
US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor announced on Monday that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will hold multiple rounds of discussions with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal during his visit to the Indian capital.
In a post on X, Gor said Greer would participate in several meetings with Goyal aimed at advancing the proposed trade deal between the two countries.
The talks are expected to focus on finalising the framework for the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement, which both sides hope to conclude before a key US tariff deadline next month.
The ministerial level engagement follows months of negotiations between New Delhi and Washington on an interim trade arrangement that would serve as a stepping stone towards a comprehensive bilateral trade pact.
Speaking to reporters on Sunday, Goyal confirmed that his US counterpart would be arriving in Delhi for trade discussions. The minister has previously expressed confidence that India and the US are moving steadily towards resolving pending issues and could conclude the first phase of the agreement by the middle of July.
Earlier this month, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said negotiations were focused on giving final shape to the framework agreement while simultaneously advancing discussions on the broader trade deal.
The upcoming talks carry added significance as a temporary 10 per cent tariff imposed by the United States on imports from its trading partners is due to expire on July 24. The measure, announced earlier this year, was levied in addition to existing Most Favoured Nation duty rates.
Once the 150 day period ends, Washington is expected to roll out a revised tariff regime, making the outcome of the ongoing negotiations particularly important for both countries.
The latest round of ministerial engagement follows chief negotiator level talks held in New Delhi from June 2 to June 4, which were aimed at narrowing differences and advancing the proposed agreement.
India and the US have been working to deepen economic cooperation and boost bilateral trade through a phased approach, with the interim pact expected to lay the foundation for a wider and more comprehensive trade partnership.
