India and US Close In on Long-Awaited Bilateral Trade Pact

With only one percent of outstanding issues remaining, Indian and American negotiators have entered the final stretch of talks aimed at securing a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement. A USTR delegation led by Brendan Lynch recently concluded a four-day visit to New Delhi to bridge the final gaps in the framework.

External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal described the latest round of discussions as positive and constructive, signaling a renewed commitment to the interim trade deal first outlined in February. The negotiations, spearheaded by India’s chief negotiator Darpan Jain, spanned a broad spectrum of economic concerns including non-tariff measures, customs facilitation, and economic security alignment.

This push to finalize the agreement follows a series of high-level meetings held earlier this month. While both nations have remained tight-lipped regarding the specific details of the final one percent of contentious points, the diplomatic tone suggests a mutual desire to move past long-standing barriers to reciprocal trade.