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India was among the first countries to commence trade discussions with the US following Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the White House in February.
Indian officials indicated that the second stage of the trade deal could be a more comprehensive agreement, anticipated between September and November.
India-US Trade Deal: India and the United States are set to negotiate a bilateral trade deal, expected to unfold in three phases. According to a Bloomberg report, the agreement aims to be finalized before new tariffs take effect.
The deal may include easier access for industrial goods and some agricultural products. Additionally, it might work on reducing other trade barriers, such as stringent quality control measures. Officials, who spoke to Bloomberg on the condition of anonymity due to the ongoing private negotiations, shared this information.
The discussions are still in progress, and it’s unclear if the US has agreed to the proposed three-step deal.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is in Washington for a four-day visit ending on Tuesday, during which he is expected to meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick to advance the talks.
Second Stage Expectations
Indian officials indicated that the second stage of the trade deal could be a more comprehensive agreement, anticipated between September and November. This phase may cover 19 key areas both nations agreed upon in April and could coincide with a potential visit by US President Donald Trump to India for the Quad leaders’ summit.
Final Stage and Completion By Next Year
The final part of the deal would be a complete and comprehensive agreement, requiring approval from the US Congress. According to officials, this last stage might only be finalized next year, as reported by Bloomberg.
India was among the first countries to commence trade discussions with the US following Prime Minister Modi’s visit to the White House in February, shortly after President Trump assumed office. Both leaders agreed to enhance trade relations and aimed to complete the first phase of the deal by fall. Since then, India has shown a keen interest in achieving some early trade gains before the deadline.
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