Piyush Goyal Rejects Report on India-U.S. Trade Talks as ‘False and Baseless’
New Delhi — Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday rejected a Reuters report claiming that India had turned down a quick trade agreement with the United States, calling it “completely false” and “baseless.”
“This news is completely false, baseless and misleading,” Goyal wrote on X.
“I had fantastic meetings with USTR Jamieson Greer, when he visited Delhi in June. Both sides reaffirmed their commitment to an agreement that is balanced, commercially meaningful, and delivers tangible benefits for businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers in both countries,” he said.
Goyal added, “Our teams remain fully engaged in achieving this objective.”
The Reuters report claimed that India “is holding out for a better deal.”
Earlier Monday, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-U.S. trade agreement were continuing and moving in the right direction.
“We don’t see any challenge in negotiations, and consultations are progressing in the right direction,” Agrawal said at a news conference.
“Both sides remain positive. The India-US framework trade deal is ready for signing at an appropriate time. Trade ties between the two nations continue to strengthen, including energy imports from the US,” he added.
Goyal said earlier this month that negotiations on the bilateral trade agreement had entered their final stage, with most major issues resolved.
“We don’t see any difficulties with the US,” Goyal said, adding that “concessions and other elements have largely been finalised.”
U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said late last month that the proposed agreement was in its “last one or two per cent,” with negotiators working to resolve the remaining issues after nearly 18 months of talks.
Speaking at the U.S.-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit, Gor said officials from both countries had intensified negotiations in recent weeks in an effort to finalize the agreement. (Source: IANS)
