White House Calls India Trade Talks ‘Productive’ As Piyush Goyal Says Most Discussions Concluded

The White House has described trade negotiations with India as “productive”. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said both sides had concluded most discussions and were fine-tuning the agreement.

“Representatives of the Trump administration continue to engage in productive talks with Indian officials to secure a historic trade deal that puts Americans and America First,” White House spokesman Matthew Middleton told IANS.

Middleton said US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi shared a close personal relationship. He added that both leaders remained committed to strengthening bilateral ties.

Speaking at the India-Netherlands Business Forum in The Hague on Monday, Goyal said, “We have concluded most of the discussions and are fine-tuning the agreement.”

Goyal is visiting Germany and the Netherlands with a business delegation. He said India had concluded nine free trade agreements over the past four and a half years.

India and the US announced a framework for the first phase of their bilateral trade agreement on February 7. Under the framework, Washington reduced tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent.

Subsequent changes in US tariff policy, including developments following a Supreme Court ruling, triggered further negotiations.

Goyal met US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during the G20 Trade Ministerial in Milwaukee on October 1. A team led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal held talks with US officials in Washington from October 15 to 17.

During his Mumbai visit on October 20, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said both sides were close to an agreement. He said only a few issues remained unresolved.

Washington is seeking greater Indian purchases of American energy and technology. India, meanwhile, has expressed its intention to buy $500 billion worth of US energy products, aircraft and parts, precious metals, technology products and coking coal over five years. The US remains India’s largest trading partner.

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