US Trade Team Plans India Visit for Bilateral Agreement Talks

The United States and India are advancing negotiations on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), with a US delegation scheduled to visit New Delhi on June 5-6 to continue talks aimed at reaching an interim agreement by July. Both countries view the discussions positively, with India expressing optimism about fruitful outcomes and the possibility of signing the first tranche of the deal soon. The BTA is part of a broader initiative dubbed 'Mission 500,' which aims to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, reflecting the strategic importance of the US as India's largest trading partner. Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal highlighted the progress in talks not only with the US but also with the European Union, emphasizing areas of cooperation over competition. However, Indian think tanks such as the Global Trade Research Initiative have urged caution to ensure the agreement is not shaped under undue pressure, especially following the recent US court ruling that blocked tariffs imposed during the Trump administration. Overall, the trade discussions represent a pivotal shift in economic relations with hopes for a mutually beneficial agreement that supports growth on both sides.