India and US Near Trade Agreement as Negotiations Enter Final Stages, Goyal Says
New Delhi — India and the United States have resolved most outstanding issues in negotiations over a proposed bilateral trade agreement and are now working to finalize its terms, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said Monday.
Speaking at the India-Netherlands Business Forum in The Hague, Goyal indicated that negotiations had entered their final stages, bringing the two countries closer to concluding a long-awaited trade pact.
“We have concluded most of the discussions on the India-US trade deal. Now we are fine-tuning the agreement,” Goyal said.
The minister also revealed that India is currently engaged in trade negotiations with eight other countries as part of its broader efforts to expand international commerce and strengthen economic partnerships.
Goyal’s remarks follow recent statements by President Donald Trump suggesting that Washington and New Delhi are approaching a breakthrough in their trade negotiations.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump said the two countries were “pretty close” to reaching an agreement.
“We’re going to make a deal…It’s going to be a much different kind of deal than we’ve done,” Trump said.
U.S. Ambassador to India Sergio Gor has also expressed optimism about the negotiations, indicating that major differences between the two sides have largely been addressed and that an agreement could be finalized soon.
Goyal has previously emphasized that India is seeking trade terms that would provide its exporters with a competitive advantage over businesses in other countries.
Meanwhile, during his visit to the Netherlands, Goyal met with members of the Dutch Parliament to explore opportunities for expanding economic cooperation between India and the Netherlands.
The discussions included the proposed India-European Union Free Trade Agreement, which both sides view as an opportunity to improve market access, diversify supply chains and encourage new investment.
“Discussed the potential of the India-EU FTA to boost market access, diversify supply chains, and unlock fresh investment opportunities,” Goyal said in a post on X.
He also highlighted opportunities for cooperation in advanced manufacturing, renewable energy and innovation, emphasizing the importance of building a resilient and forward-looking economic partnership.
Goyal is visiting Germany and the Netherlands from October 22 to 27 as part of an effort to strengthen India’s economic relationships with both European countries and expand industrial and technological collaboration.
During the German portion of his trip, held October 22–24, Goyal participated in the Berlin Global Dialogue, where he met with international policymakers and business leaders.
His discussions focused on India’s economic stability, expanding manufacturing capabilities and growing role in strengthening global supply chains.
The latest developments in the India-U.S. trade negotiations suggest that both governments are moving closer to an agreement, although neither side has announced a definitive timeline for signing the pact. (Source: IANS)
