Indian Team To Visit US This Week For Trade Talks

A high-level Indian delegation is set to visit the United States this week to advance discussions on a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) aimed at strengthening economic ties between the two nations. The visit marks the continuation of ongoing negotiations that have already seen five rounds of talks, with both sides working toward concluding the first phase of the pact by the end of 2025.

The decision to intensify the dialogue follows directives issued earlier this year by leaders from both countries, who called for concrete progress on the proposed trade framework. According to official sources, the Indian team will meet senior U.S. officials, including United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and the U.S. Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor, to discuss tariffs, market access, and investment opportunities.

Last month, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal led a delegation to New York, where India and the U.S. held what were described as “constructive” discussions covering a range of trade-related issues. That meeting laid the groundwork for the upcoming visit, aimed at resolving key differences and building momentum toward a formal agreement.

One of the major challenges facing negotiators is the high tariff regime imposed by Washington — including a 25% reciprocal duty on certain Indian goods and an additional 25% levy linked to India’s import of Russian crude oil. These combined tariffs have raised concerns among Indian exporters and are expected to be a focal point of the upcoming talks.

Both nations have expressed optimism about achieving a breakthrough, with the shared goal of expanding bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, up from the current USD 191 billion. The United States remains India’s largest trading partner, accounting for nearly 18% of its total exports and more than 10% of overall trade volume.