Several Indian parliamentarians welcomed US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, on Thursday and congratulated him on the recently announced India-US interim trade agreement, calling it a key step in bolstering bilateral economic relations. The event, attended by senior lawmakers and dignitaries, featured a backdrop of Indian and American flags and included discussions on the agreement’s scope and potential impact on trade between the two nations.
The interim agreement, officially announced on February 6, follows negotiations that began in 2025 and is viewed as a precursor to a broader Bilateral Trade Agreement currently under discussion. Under the agreement, the United States will reduce reciprocal tariffs on selected Indian goods from fifty percent to eighteen percent. Further tariff eliminations are expected in sectors including pharmaceuticals, gems and jewellery, and aircraft components once the comprehensive pact is finalized.
In return, India has agreed to reduce duties on certain US industrial and agricultural products, such as tree nuts, fruits, soybean oil, wine, and spirits. Additionally, India plans to purchase more than 500 billion dollars of US goods over the next five years, targeting industries such as energy, technology, coal, and aircraft. The agreement also includes provisions on US concessions related to penalties tied to India’s imports of Russian oil, subject to specific conditions.
US President Donald Trump described the pact as “historic,” highlighting the reciprocal benefits and improved market access for American products in India’s 1.4-billion-strong market. Although some questions have arisen regarding agricultural provisions, Indian officials clarified that there is a shared understanding between both sides, with the final agreement expected to be formalized by March.
The event saw the participation of prominent figures, including Advocate Ujjwal Nikam; Rajya Sabha MPs Baijayant Jay Panda, Bhubaneswar Kalita, S. Phangnon Konyak, Sanjay Seth, and Shashank Mani; Tejasvi Surya, MP from Bengaluru South; Sudha Murty, Chairperson of the Murty Trust; Bharat Mathukumilli, MP from Visakhapatnam; and historian Meenakshi Jain. Observers noted that the gathering reflected strong political interest in advancing economic engagement between India and the United States.
