Commerce minister says talks with Washington ongoing even as US tariffs weigh on Indian exports
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday confirmed that India and the United States are actively negotiating a trade agreement. His remarks come against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 50% tariff on Indian goods, while Washington continues to accuse New Delhi of indirectly funding the Russia-Ukraine war through discounted Russian crude purchases, reported timesofindia.indiatimes.com.
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Speaking at an industry chamber event on sustainability, Goyal said: “We are in dialogue with the US for a BTA (Bilateral Trade Agreement).”
Goyal emphasized that India has drawn firm boundaries in the negotiations, refusing to open its agricultural and dairy sectors while maintaining independent trade policies with Moscow
Negotiations between the two nations began in March, with five rounds of discussions completed so far. However, following Trump’s tariff announcement on August 27, the American delegation postponed its scheduled visit to New Delhi for the sixth round of talks, which was originally planned for August 25. A new date has not yet been set.
According to officials, both sides continue to maintain active communication channels despite the strain. Exporters have been advised not to panic, with assurances that the tariff standoff is a “temporary phase in a long-term partnership.”
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent also sought to ease tensions, describing the India-US relationship as “very complicated” but adding that he remained hopeful: “At the end of the day, we will come together.
