New York: Trade negotiations between India and the United States resumed here on Tuesday, with US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch meeting officials at the Commerce Ministry amid signs of a thaw in bilateral relations.
India’s negotiating team is led by Rajesh Agrawal, Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce. According to Commerce Ministry sources, discussions are taking place at multiple levels and the next course of action will be determined after Lynch’s meeting with the US Chief Negotiator.
Officials on both sides are said to be approaching the talks with a positive outlook, aiming to resolve all outstanding issues in the proposed trade deal. Some matters fall within the diplomatic domain and are also being handled by the Ministry of External Affairs.
Lynch’s visit comes as optimism about a potential agreement has been bolstered by recent statements from US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi following weeks of deadlock.
On September 9, Trump posted on Truth Social that negotiations were ongoing and expressed confidence in a mutually beneficial outcome for “both of our Great Countries.” Calling Modi a “great friend,” Trump said he would be speaking with him soon.
Responding to Trump’s message, Modi said he was confident the negotiations would “unlock the limitless potential of the India-US partnership” and added that he, too, looked forward to their upcoming talks.
Meanwhile, Sergio Gor, the US nominee to be ambassador to India, told a Senate panel last week that India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal is expected to visit Washington, DC, for a meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
On the trade front, India’s merchandise trade deficit narrowed to $26.49 billion in August from $27.35 billion in July. Despite global headwinds and policy uncertainties, Indian exporters have performed strongly, which officials say underscores the effectiveness of the government’s trade policies.
With IANS inputs