India-US to sustain positive, productive discussions on trade deal

Negotiations between India and the United States on a long-awaited trade agreement are gathering momentum, with officials from both sides indicating that discussions remain “positive and productive” as they work towards finalising the deal.A senior US official said the ongoing talks in Washington, DC are progressing steadily, signalling optimism around the outcome. “The Trump administration and India continue to have positive and productive discussions towards a finalised trade deal,” the official said, reflecting the constructive tone of the negotiations.
The Indian delegation will engage with officials from the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR). Leading the American side as chief negotiator is Brendan Lynch, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia. India’s delegation is headed by Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce, who has played a key role in the ongoing trade discussions with Washington.Officials said the presence of senior representatives underscores the growing urgency and importance attached to the proposed agreement. While the finer details remain under wraps, the advanced stage of negotiations has raised expectations that an announcement could be imminent.The trade pact is part of broader efforts by both nations to reduce tariff barriers and expand bilateral trade ties. If concluded, the agreement would mark a significant milestone in economic relations between the world’s largest economy and one of its fastest-growing major markets.
Earlier this year, both countries had agreed on a framework for an interim trade arrangement, reaffirming their commitment to a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement (BTA). The negotiations were initiated following discussions between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, 2025, aimed at enhancing market access and strengthening trade cooperation.US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor recently described the ongoing negotiations as a “win-win” for both nations, highlighting the significance of the Indian delegation’s visit to Washington in pushing the deal closer to completion.

The Indian trade delegation will be arriving in Washington this week. A great step to finalize our bilateral trade deal. A win-win for both nations!

— Ambassador Sergio Gor (@USAmbIndia) April 20, 2026

Meanwhile, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the first tranche of the proposed agreement is “almost finalised,” with efforts focused on securing preferential market access for Indian goods in the US market.“We have almost finalised our free trade agreement, the first tranche of the bilateral trade agreement with them. We are trying to close the Ts and dots on that and work out what would be the mechanism by which India can get a preferential access, market access in the US market compared to our competitors,” Goyal said.

#WATCH | Delhi | On Indian delegation to visit Washington DC, Union Minister Piyush Goyal says, "We have almost finalised the first ranch of bilateral trade agreement with them... We are trying to work out what would be the mechanism on which India would get a preferential… pic.twitter.com/1Qyri6osDX

— ANI (@ANI) April 20, 2026