Washington says most major issues have been settled, raising hopes of a breakthrough in India-US trade negotiations after months of talks….reports Asian Lite News Desk
A long-awaited trade agreement between India and the United States is nearly complete, with only one or two per cent of negotiations remaining, a senior US official has said.
The official said the major issues had been settled and that discussions were continuing between senior officials and political leaders, including US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The biggest items have been settled. I mean … it’s pretty much done. We have that one, one or two per cent left,” the official told reporters during a State Department briefing on Friday.
The comments have raised expectations of a breakthrough in trade negotiations between the two countries after months of discussions aimed at strengthening economic ties.
The remarks came ahead of US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s scheduled visit to India, where he will hold meetings with Indian government representatives and business leaders in Mumbai and Jamnagar.
The senior official said Washington and New Delhi remained in regular contact over the proposed agreement, with negotiations continuing every week.
“We are actively engaged every single week,” the official said, highlighting the ongoing diplomatic efforts to conclude the deal.
Recent discussions involving US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, alongside conversations between Trump and Modi, were cited as evidence of continued progress.
However, the official acknowledged that legal complications had contributed to delays in finalising the agreement.
An earlier understanding had been linked to the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). According to the official, the legal framework had to be reconsidered after the law was struck down.
The development required negotiators to revisit aspects of the proposed arrangement, extending discussions by several months.
Despite the setback, the official expressed confidence that the remaining differences could be resolved, although no final agreement or signing date was announced.
Rubio is scheduled to travel to Uzbekistan before proceeding to India, where his programme will focus on political engagement and commercial cooperation.
In Mumbai, he is expected to meet Indian government counterparts and senior executives from some of the country’s largest companies. He will also travel to Jamnagar as part of the visit.
The official said the choice of Mumbai rather than New Delhi reflected the Trump administration’s emphasis on commercial diplomacy and efforts to encourage greater Indian investment in the United States.
Washington is also seeking to deepen cooperation with India in sectors including information technology, pharmaceuticals and defence.
The planned engagement comes as both governments look to expand economic and strategic ties, with trade negotiations remaining a key part of the bilateral relationship.
Further visits by senior US Cabinet officials are anticipated next year as the two countries seek to broaden cooperation across multiple sectors.
Although the latest comments suggest that negotiations are nearing completion, the remaining issues still need to be resolved before a final agreement can be confirmed.
The proposed deal is expected to be an important development in India-US economic relations, with both sides continuing discussions at senior levels to reach a conclusion.
