New Delhi: India and the United States are set to resume high-level trade discussions next week as an American delegation arrives in New Delhi to push forward talks on an interim trade arrangement and the proposed broader bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.
According to officials, the US negotiating team will visit India from June 1 to June 4 for a series of meetings aimed at narrowing differences on several key trade and investment issues.
The upcoming discussions are expected to focus on finalising the structure and operational details of the interim trade understanding that both sides agreed to pursue earlier this year. Negotiators will also continue deliberations on the larger Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), which seeks to deepen economic cooperation between India and the US.
Officials familiar with the process said areas likely to dominate the negotiations include market access, customs procedures, trade facilitation measures, investment promotion and concerns linked to non-tariff barriers.
The latest round follows earlier in-person meetings held in Washington DC in April, where Indian and American officials explored the framework for strengthening trade ties and reducing existing bottlenecks in bilateral commerce.
India and the United States had jointly announced in February their intention to work towards a mutually beneficial interim trade framework while simultaneously advancing negotiations on a comprehensive bilateral trade pact.
The talks come at a time when both countries are looking to expand economic engagement amid shifting global supply chains and increasing strategic cooperation across sectors including technology, manufacturing and energy.
Government sources indicated that both sides are aiming to accelerate progress on trade issues and build momentum for a more comprehensive long-term economic partnership.
