India and US Restart Trade Talks as Leaders Signal Optimism

by Suryaa |

India and the United States have restarted trade talks in New York, showing signs of warming ties after a period of tension. On Tuesday, US Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch met with officials at India’s Commerce Ministry. India’s team is led by Rajesh Agrawal, Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce.

According to officials, discussions are happening at multiple levels. The next steps will be decided after talks with Lynch, who is the US’s lead trade negotiator. Both sides are said to be in a positive mindset and are aiming to sort out all unresolved trade issues. Some matters also involve diplomatic concerns and are being handled by India’s Ministry of External Affairs.

This round of talks comes after encouraging comments from both US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On September 9, Trump wrote on Truth Social that talks were moving forward and he was confident they would end in a successful deal for both countries. He also called Modi a “great friend” and said he would be speaking with him soon.

Modi replied to Trump’s message, saying he was confident that these trade negotiations would unlock the full potential of the India-US partnership. He also said he was looking forward to their conversation.

In related developments, US ambassador nominee to India, Sergio Gor, told a Senate panel that India’s Commerce Minister, Piyush Goyal, is expected to visit Washington, where he will meet with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

Meanwhile, India’s trade deficit in goods slightly improved, dropping from \$27.35 billion in July to \$26.49 billion in August. Despite global challenges, Indian exporters have performed well, suggesting that government trade policies are having a positive effect.

The renewed talks bring hope for a stronger trade partnership between the two countries.