Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is expected to visit Washington shortly as India-US trade negotiations gather momentum, according to PTI sources. The development follows recent daylong discussions in New Delhi between US Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and India’s Rajesh Agrawal on the proposed bilateral trade agreement.
The Indian Commerce Ministry described the September 16 talks as “positive and forward-looking,” noting that both sides agreed to intensify efforts for an early and mutually beneficial conclusion. The discussions lasted seven hours and were seen as an important step toward resolving tensions caused by steep US tariffs on Indian goods.
In addition to trade deliberations, reports suggest that political-level talks may take place between External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the upcoming UNGA session in New York. Final travel plans for Jaishankar’s visit are yet to be announced.
The renewed dialogue comes in the wake of a 25% US tariff on Indian goods, plus an additional 25% penalty related to India’s Russian crude oil purchases. During the New Delhi talks, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump exchanged messages reaffirming their commitment to strengthening bilateral relations, with Modi emphasizing the Indo-US partnership’s potential for growth.
Since February, officials from both countries have conducted five rounds of negotiations on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), aiming to complete the first tranche by fall 2025. The pact is designed to more than double bilateral trade from $191 billion to $500 billion by 2030.
Commerce Minister Goyal, who previously visited Washington in May for trade talks with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, noted that discussions are progressing in the right direction. The US remains India’s largest trading partner, accounting for about 18% of Indian goods exports and 10.73% of total merchandise trade, highlighting the strategic importance of finalizing a mutually beneficial trade agreement.
