VOI World/ Desk
India and the United States are moving towards finalising the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement, with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stating that both sides are working to close the remaining gaps and could execute the initial tranche by mid-July.
The announcement follows recent negotiations between Indian officials and a visiting US trade delegation led by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Another senior US delegation is expected to visit India later this month as discussions enter a crucial stage.
According to Goyal, the proposed agreement would provide India with preferential access compared to competing exporters and serve as the foundation for a broader bilateral trade framework. The talks have covered trade in goods, customs procedures, non-tariff barriers and economic security issues.
The negotiations come amid ongoing trade tensions, including proposed additional US tariffs on imports from several countries, including India. New Delhi has been seeking lower tariff barriers and improved market access to maintain its competitiveness in the American market.
If concluded, the first phase of the agreement would mark a significant milestone in India-US economic relations and strengthen trade ties between the world’s two largest democracies.
