NEW DELHI, India — Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday said India and the United States held a productive exchange of views on their bilateral relationship during meetings with U.S. Senator Steve Daines and U.S. Envoy to India Sergio Gor, as the two countries move closer to finalizing a long-anticipated trade agreement.
“Delighted to again meet my good friends US Senator Steve Daines and the US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. Had a productive exchange of views on our bilateral relationship,” Goyal said in a post on X.
The discussions come as New Delhi and Washington are in advanced stages of negotiations on a trade deal, which officials on both sides have described as a priority. Gor has said India and the U.S. remain actively engaged in trade talks, while emphasizing that cooperation extends beyond commerce.
While trade is an important pillar of the relationship, Gor said the two countries will continue to work closely in other critical areas, including security, counterterrorism, energy, technology, education, and health.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal recently said the first tranche of the India-U.S. trade deal is close to being finalized, though he cautioned that no firm timeline has been set. He noted that Goyal held a virtual meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in the last week of December, and that negotiating teams on both sides remain in continuous discussions to reach consensus.
Agrawal said India expects exports to the United States to stay in positive territory, with electronics shipments emerging as a key driver, given that they currently face no tariffs. Other sectors, he said, continue to be affected by higher duties.
Gor also announced that India will be invited to join PaxSilica as a full member next month. He described PaxSilica as a new U.S.-led initiative launched last month to build a secure, prosperous, and innovation-driven silicon supply chain, spanning critical minerals and energy inputs to advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence development, and logistics. (Source: IANS)
