Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is set to visit the United States on September 22 to advance talks on a bilateral trade agreement between India and the US, according to an official statement.
The visit follows the recent one-day discussions between US Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal in India on September 16, where discussions were held on various aspects of the proposed trade deal.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to intensify efforts to reach an agreement, according to an official statement by the Ministry of Commerce & Industry.
During his US visit, Goyal will lead a delegation to continue discussions with American counterparts, aiming for the “early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement."
The commerce ministry said on September 16 that talks with a visiting US delegation on a proposed bilateral trade agreement were “constructive," with both sides expressing commitment to an early and mutually beneficial conclusion.
“It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement," the ministry noted in a statement after a seven-hour meeting with US representatives.
The talks were significant as they came in the backdrop of Washington imposing a 50% duty on Indian goods, a combination of a 25% base tariff and an additional 25% levy — citing India’s continued purchase of Russian oil.
Following the tariff hike, US President Donald Trump recently struck a friendly tone, referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a “friend."
PM Modi responded positively, setting the stage for trade negotiations to move forward.
In May, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal had also held discussions in Washington with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, aimed at bridging differences on key trade issues.
Source: News18
