India and US Restart Trade Negotiations in New Delhi โAmid โฃTariff Concerns
New Delhi – India and theโค United States today resumed trade talks in New Delhi, seeking to overcome obstacles thatโ have stalledโข progress toward a bilateral โtradeโ agreement (BTA).The discussions come as both nations navigateโ lingering tariff tensions and differing priorities in key sectors.
The push โฃfor a BTA was initially tasked to the trade ministers ofโ both countries โคby Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump in Febuary, wiht a goal of concluding the first โขphase by “the fall โof 2025”-November. However, negotiations reached a standstill due to Washington’s demands for greaterโค access to India’s agricultural and dairy markets, areas considered sensitive by New Delhi.
While officials describe the current environment as “not a round of negotiation,” efforts are underway to find common ground. “We will try to seeโ how we can โreach an agreement with the US. โคWe had been talking virtually but we โhave not made much progress because the environment was not โconducive,” one official told the Indian Express.
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal confirmed discussions haveโ occurred at multiple levels – diplomatic, trade, chief negotiator, and ministerial – and that a positive outlook on trade issues exists in โฃboth countries.
The resumption of talks follows recent statements from White House trade adviser Peter Navarro, who indicated India was “coming to โthe negotiating table” โขafter a period of critical โฃremarks regarding India’s trade practices and its relationship with Russia.โ Prime Ministerโข Modi recently welcomed positive comments from President Trump regardingโข the tradeโ discussions, expressing optimism โabout the potential of the partnership.
Both countries have indicated ongoing discussions โขaimed at reaching an interim trade dealโ by the fall.