Representatives from India’s Department of Commerce and the Office of the US Trade Representative held productive discussions in Washington from April 23-25, aiming to finalize the first tranche of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement by Fall 2025. The meeting, part of ongoing efforts to deepen economic ties, focused on tariff and non-tariff matters, exploring opportunities for early mutual wins across multiple sectors.
The discussions follow earlier bilateral engagements held in New Delhi in March 2025 and align with the Leaders’ Statement issued in February 2025, which emphasized enhancing trade relations and supply chain integration. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump had set a bold target during their February meeting in Washington, aiming to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 under the ‘Mission 500’ initiative.
The Ministry of Commerce and Industry highlighted that while virtual sectoral expert-level engagements have been productive, in-person meetings are scheduled to begin at the end of May to accelerate progress. The first tranche of the agreement is expected to cover a wide range of sectors, ensuring mutual benefits and fostering growth.
US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent expressed optimism about the negotiations, noting that India is among the top trading partners making significant proposals to avert US tariffs. He indicated that President Trump would play an active role in finalizing trade deals with 15 to 18 key partners, with India likely to be among the first agreements reached.
The India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement represents a critical step in strengthening economic cooperation, promoting fairness, national security, and job creation, while setting the stage for long-term growth and collaboration between the two nations.
