India and US discuss early conclusion of interim trade agreement
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says he held a productive meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on concluding an interim India-US trade agreement. The talks took place during the G20 Trade Ministers’ meeting as tariff changes in the United States continued to complicate negotiations.
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said he discussed the early conclusion of an interim trade agreement with United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The meeting took place on Wednesday on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers’ meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Goyal said the discussion focused on a mutually beneficial interim agreement under the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement.
He also said the two officials exchanged views on deliberations under the US presidency of the G20. The meeting coincided with a telephone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump, during which they reviewed cooperation in trade, defence, energy, critical technologies and other areas. India and the United States announced in February that they had finalised a framework for the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement.
Further negotiations followed changes in the US tariff landscape. Goyal said on September 24 that the pact was ready to be executed once the United States gave India a competitive advantage over rival suppliers in the American market. He identified ASEAN countries, China and Bangladesh among India’s competitors.
The source material does not provide details of the latest negotiating positions, a timetable for completion or any agreement reached during the meeting. Goyal’s comments establish that discussions are continuing and that both sides are still working towards an interim arrangement.
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