India-US Trade Deal Nears Completion, but No Immediate Agreement Expected: Greer
Milwaukee – The United States and India are approaching the final stages of negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement, although an announcement is not imminent, U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said following talks with Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
Speaking at a press conference on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee, Greer described his discussions with Goyal as constructive and confirmed that negotiating teams from both countries were continuing their work.
“We are continually trying to finish the trade deal with India. I would characterize it as we say in the US. We’re in the, we’re in the short strokes, so I think we’re toward the end of it,” Greer said.
However, he cautioned against expectations of an immediate breakthrough, saying negotiators had identified the remaining obstacles and were working to resolve them.
Greer did not disclose the outstanding issues or provide a timeline for completing the agreement.
His remarks followed a telephone conversation between President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which Greer described as constructive. He indicated that the two leaders could speak again soon to review progress in the negotiations.
“My sense is that the president and prime minister may have another call very soon on this just to assess progress and where we are,” he said.
The discussions in Milwaukee are part of ongoing efforts by Washington and New Delhi to resolve outstanding trade differences and finalize a bilateral agreement.
Goyal also held several bilateral meetings with other trade ministers during the G20 gathering, which brought together representatives of major advanced and emerging economies.
Greer highlighted the Trump administration’s broader trade negotiations, saying the United States had signed 10 reciprocal trade agreements and issued nine joint statements with trading partners. According to Greer, those agreements cover more than 40% of U.S. goods trade.
Defending the administration’s tariff policies, Greer said the measures were intended to strengthen American manufacturing and domestic supply chains rather than target specific countries.
“When we impose tariffs and trade measures, these are not, these are not anti-any country. Our trade policy is pro-American,” he said.
The G20 meeting also addressed excess industrial production, forced labor in global supply chains, the most-favored-nation trade principle and the use of food supplies as instruments of economic coercion.
The latest high-level discussions between India and the United States signal continued progress toward a trade agreement, although both sides still need to resolve outstanding issues before a deal can be finalized. (Source: IANS)
