US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is set to travel to New Delhi this week for high-level talks with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, as India and the United States push to settle the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement that could reset tariff and market-access terms between the two economies.
Greer’s visit, scheduled around June 23-24, comes as negotiators try to give final shape to an interim agreement framed under the wider Bilateral Trade Agreement launched by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on February 13, 2025. The talks will also cover the joint statement that set out the political direction for a more reciprocal trade relationship, with both sides seeking an arrangement that can be announced before negotiations move to a broader, legally detailed pact.
The discussions are expected to focus on tariff treatment, non-tariff barriers, customs facilitation, trade in goods, economic security alignment and sector-specific concerns that have held up closure. Officials have indicated that most technical issues have been narrowed, but tariff competitiveness remains a central question for New Delhi, which wants any arrangement with Washington to give exporters from India a clear edge over rival suppliers in key global markets.
Goyal has said the two sides are moving towards closing “open ends” in the interim agreement and has described the first phase as a potentially “very, very vibrant” pact. Trump has also signalled progress, saying the two countries are “very close” to a deal after meeting Modi on the sidelines of the G7 engagement in France. The comments have raised expectations that the ministerial-level discussions could produce a political breakthrough, even if detailed legal drafting follows later.
The latest round follows talks held from June 2 to June 4, when a US team led by chief negotiator Brendan Lynch met officials in New Delhi. Those discussions covered a wide range of commercial issues, including tariff lines, rules affecting industrial goods, customs processes and barriers faced by exporters. Greer’s arrival lifts the negotiation to the political level, where trade-offs on sensitive issues are more likely to be settled.
The proposed interim pact is being watched closely by exporters, importers and investors because it comes at a time of shifting global tariff structures and supply-chain realignment. Washington has been pressing for more balanced trade relationships, while New Delhi is seeking better access for labour-intensive exports, manufactured goods and strategic sectors where it wants to build scale. A limited first-phase deal could provide tariff relief and predictability while both sides continue work on a larger agreement.
Trade between the two countries remains substantial despite tariff frictions. The United States is one of India’s largest export markets, while bilateral trade spans technology services, pharmaceuticals, engineering goods, textiles, energy, agriculture, electronics and defence-linked supply chains. India’s merchandise exports rose during the early part of the June quarter, giving negotiators added confidence that a tariff-focused deal with Washington could strengthen export momentum.
The talks are also taking place against a complex trade-policy backdrop in the United States, where reciprocal tariffs, sectoral investigations and domestic industry concerns have shaped negotiations with several partners. Issues such as steel, textiles, pharmaceuticals, overcapacity, rules of origin and market access are likely to influence the fine print of any interim arrangement. For New Delhi, the challenge is to secure access without opening politically sensitive sectors too quickly.
Agriculture, dairy, medical devices, digital trade and government procurement have often been difficult areas in the bilateral relationship. While the interim deal may avoid the most contentious subjects, negotiators will have to balance early wins with commitments that do not create domestic backlash. Export sectors are looking for tariff reductions, while some domestic industries remain cautious about deeper concessions to US suppliers.
