India, Thailand Trade Delegations Advance US Talks on Investment, Market Access

India and the United States are actively advancing bilateral trade negotiations, with Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal leading a delegation to Washington to engage with U.S. officials, including U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. The talks aim to finalize the first phase of a trade agreement by fall 2025, focusing on an interim arrangement to achieve early mutual benefits, with India reportedly agreeing to reduce tariffs on several American goods. This initiative follows recent diplomatic engagements, including U.S. Vice President JD Vance's visit to New Delhi and commitments made during Prime Minister Modi's U.S. visit to boost bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. Meanwhile, Thailand is reinforcing its economic partnership with the U.S. through meetings between Thai trade representatives and U.S. senators, congressional leaders, and private sector stakeholders to expand Thai investments and explore joint manufacturing projects that enhance supply chain resilience. Thai investments in the U.S. already exceed $17 billion, creating 15,000 jobs, and the delegation emphasized continuing growth in strategic sectors such as agriculture, energy, and technology. Both Indian and Thai efforts highlight a broader push to strengthen trade relations with the U.S. amid evolving global economic dynamics.