India is preparing for the next round of negotiations on the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the United States. A delegation led by Commerce Secretary-designate Rajesh Agarwal will travel to Washington, DC, for high-level discussions scheduled over three days, starting April 23, 2025.
Officials have finalized the agenda, which encompasses a comprehensive range of issues across 19 chapters. These include critical areas such as tariffs, non-tariff barriers, rules of origin, trade in goods and services, customs facilitation, and regulatory cooperation. Both nations are focused on achieving a mutually beneficial “early harvest” agreement ahead of the fall 2025 deadline.
India and the US aim to finalize the first phase of the BTA by the fall of this year, setting the stage to double bilateral trade volumes to $500 billion by 2030, up from the current $191 billion. The terms of reference for the agreement were concluded during a prior visit by the US negotiation team. Virtual discussions on various chapters will commence this week, followed by in-person meetings at the end of the month.
Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal confirmed India’s commitment to trade liberalization, emphasizing the mutual benefits of completing the trade deal before the fall of 2025. Additional Secretary Rajesh Agarwal reiterated this sentiment, highlighting the urgency and focus on achieving meaningful progress within the stipulated timeline.
Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman will also visit the US and Peru starting April 20, where she will participate in multilateral dialogues aimed at showcasing India’s economic vitality. Her engagements will further underline India’s intent to enhance its global trade footprint and foster economic partnerships.
The upcoming negotiations represent a significant step forward in strengthening economic ties between India and the US, offering the potential to address long-standing trade issues while unlocking new opportunities for bilateral growth and cooperation. Both sides remain optimistic about achieving substantial progress in these talks, which are being closely monitored by stakeholders in both countries.
