New Delhi: A delegation of U.S. officials, headed by Brendan Lynch, the Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, engaged in "positive and forward-looking" discussions on Tuesday with representatives from India's Department of Commerce. They agreed to enhance efforts aimed at reaching an early conclusion of a mutually advantageous Trade Agreement.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry released a statement indicating that the U.S. Trade Representative's team, led by Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch for the India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement negotiations, visited India on September 16, 2025.
"They engaged in talks with officials from the Department of Commerce, led by the Special Secretary, regarding India-U.S. trade relations, including the India-U.S. Bilateral Trade Agreement," the statement noted.
"Recognizing the lasting significance of bilateral trade between India and the U.S., the discussions were constructive and forward-looking, addressing various elements of the trade agreement. It was resolved to intensify efforts to achieve an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement," the statement further elaborated.
Previously, India and the United States have conducted five rounds of negotiations for a trade agreement. The most recent round of discussions scheduled for August was postponed.
In recent months, India and the U.S. have been working towards an interim trade deal.
In July, US President Donald Trump declared a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods, despite the anticipation of a temporary India-US trade agreement that could have prevented such high tariffs. Shortly thereafter, he enforced an additional 25 percent tariff, raising the total to 50 percent, due to India's ongoing imports of Russian oil. These 50 percent tariffs were implemented on August 27.
India expresses concerns regarding the US's request to liberalize the agricultural and dairy sectors. These sectors are vital and sensitive for India, as they support the livelihoods of a significant portion of the population.
In March of this year, India and the US began discussions for a fair, balanced, and mutually advantageous Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), with the goal of finalizing the first phase of the Agreement by October-November 2025.
