Karnataka cadre IAS officer Darpan Jain has been selected as India’s new chief negotiator for the upcoming trade discussions with the United States. A member of the 2001 batch, Jain currently serves as Joint Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry and has been deeply involved in India’s trade engagements with several countries over the years.
He will represent India during the talks scheduled for December 10 and 11, where both sides aim to accelerate work on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The negotiations will cover a broad range of trade issues, with tariffs expected to be one of the central topics.
Jain steps into the role previously held by Rajesh Agrawal, who has now taken charge as Commerce Secretary. In his new position, Agrawal will supervise the overall negotiation process and coordinate strategic direction across departments involved in shaping India’s trade policy.
Ahead of the meetings, a delegation from the office of the US Trade Representative—led by Deputy USTR Ambassador Rick Switzer—is set to visit India from December 9 to 11, 2025. Both sides are hopeful of achieving meaningful movement, especially on reducing tariff barriers that have strained bilateral trade in recent years.
The United States currently imposes a total import tariff of 50% on goods coming from India. Of this, 25% reflects reciprocal duties, while the remaining 25% was added as a penalty connected to India’s continued imports of Russian oil. Addressing this two-tiered tariff structure remains a priority for India as it seeks smoother and more predictable market access.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently stated that discussions with the US have been progressing positively. He noted that he is optimistic about finalizing the first phase of the BTA soon—particularly the segment dealing with tariff adjustments and rationalization.
The upcoming negotiations mark an important step in strengthening India-US economic ties at a time when both nations are seeking to deepen cooperation across trade, technology, and supply chain security. Jain’s appointment signals India’s intention to approach the talks with seasoned leadership and a clear focus on achieving substantial and mutually beneficial outcomes.
