India, US To Start Trade Talks in Washington On April 23
Indian and US officials will begin three days of in‑person negotiations in Washington on April 23 to lay the groundwork for a proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), official sources said.
New Delhi: Indian and US officials will begin three days of in‑person negotiations in Washington on April 23 to lay the groundwork for a proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), official sources said. The talks will focus on finalizing Terms of Reference covering around 19 chapters—including tariffs, non‑tariff barriers, rules of origin, customs facilitation, goods, services and regulatory issues — under the 90‑day tariff pause announced by US President Donald Trump.
India’s delegation will be led by Additional Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, the Commerce Department’s chief negotiator, who was appointed India’s next commerce secretary on April 18 and will assume office on October 1. “Both sides will discuss the level of ambition and chart a pathway for concluding an interim agreement within the 90‑day window,” an Indian official said.
The pause, suspended until July 9, temporarily lifts US duties imposed on April 2—most notably a 26 percent tariff on Indian goods—giving both countries an opening to intensify talks. Last month’s official‑level dialogue in New Delhi, featuring US Assistant USTR Brendan Lynch, set the stage for this round.
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal has urged a swift conclusion of the pact’s first phase by September‑October, with a longer‑term goal of doubling bilateral trade to US$500 billion by 2030 from about $191 billion today. In 2024–25, the US was India’s largest trading partner: exports climbed 11.6 percent to $86.5 billion, imports rose 7.4 percent to $45.3 billion, and India ran a goods surplus of $41.2 billion.
Negotiators will weigh US demands for duty cuts on industrial goods, electric vehicles, wines, petrochemicals, dairy and tree nuts against India’s push for concessions on labour‑intensive sectors such as apparel, textiles, gems and jewellery, leather, plastics, chemicals, oilseeds, shrimp and horticulture.
The two sides are also exploring measures to streamline customs procedures, harmonize standards, deepen services trade and boost investment. Successful talks could mark a significant step in strengthening economic ties and expanding market access for businesses on both sides.
