NEW DELHI– American Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch will arrive in the Indian capital Monday night as trade talks between India and the United States are set to resume on Tuesday, according to Commerce Ministry officials.
The discussions come amid improving ties between the two countries, with both sides signaling optimism about progress. “There is a positive frame of mind on both sides while approaching trade issues,” a senior government source said.
Officials emphasized that this round of meetings is not the formal sixth round of bilateral trade agreement (BTA) talks, which were postponed from their original August 25 start date in New Delhi. The BTA aims to expand trade between the two nations to $500 billion by 2030, up from $191 billion today.
Negotiators are expected to take up unresolved issues related to the proposed trade deal, with the Ministry of External Affairs also engaged on certain diplomatic aspects. Local trade dynamics have shifted in recent months due to uncertainty surrounding U.S. tariffs and competition from other exporting countries.
In parallel, India is preparing to finalize its Export Promotion Mission (EPM), a sweeping support program for domestic exporters. The Commerce Ministry has proposed measures worth about Rs 25,000 crore over five years and sent the plan to the Finance Ministry’s expenditure finance committee.
According to sources, the scheme — announced in the Union Budget — has already undergone inter-ministerial consultations and will soon go before the Cabinet for approval. Officials suggested the final allocation could exceed earlier proposals.
The EPM is expected to be designed with flexibility and adaptability to address exporters’ concerns and shield them from global trade disruptions driven by tariff shifts. (Source: IANS)
