U.S. Trade Officials to Visit India June 1 for Interim Trade Deal Talks

NEW DELHI — A U.S. trade delegation led by Washington’s chief negotiator will visit India from June 1 to 4 to finalize details of an interim trade agreement and advance negotiations on a broader bilateral trade pact, India’s Ministry of Commerce and Industry said Wednesday.

The talks are expected to cover several areas, including market access, non-tariff measures, customs and trade facilitation, investment promotion and economic security alignment.

India and the United States issued a joint statement Feb. 7 agreeing on a framework for an interim agreement on reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade. The framework also reaffirmed both countries’ commitment to negotiations on a broader India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement.

As part of that process, an Indian team visited Washington from April 20 to 23 for in-person meetings with U.S. officials, the ministry said.

Last week, U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor expressed confidence that Washington and New Delhi could finalize a major bilateral trade deal in the “coming weeks and months.”

Speaking at the Annual Leadership Summit of the American Chamber of Commerce in New Delhi, Gor said President Donald Trump’s goal is to expand bilateral trade in a way that creates opportunities for American businesses and workers.

“President (Donald) Trump’s goal is to facilitate bilateral trade in a way that creates lucrative opportunities for American businesses and workers. Our current interim trade agreement is on the table to be finalised, unlocking prosperity for both nations,” Gor said.

The ambassador said the United States looks forward to completing details of a new bilateral trade agreement with India that would expand market access, reduce barriers and create greater certainty for businesses in both countries.

“This agreement, if done right, will strengthen supply chains, catalyse new investments, and drive sustained inclusive growth, bringing tangible benefits to industries, workers, and economies,” he said.

Gor also highlighted the growing economic relationship between the two countries, saying Indian companies committed more than $20 billion in investments in the United States during the annual Select Investment Summit.

“The US Embassy in India ranked first globally in facilitating investment commitments into the United States,” he said.

The ambassador also pointed to the growing presence of American companies in India’s expanding consumer and industrial sectors. (Source: IANS)