As India-US Trade Talks Gain Pace, Piyush Goyal Likely To Visit Washington Soon: Report | India News

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal visited Washington earlier in May for the trade talks.(Image: Piyush Goyal Office/file photo)

As India’s trade negotiations with the United States gain momentum, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is expected to visit Washington in the coming days to advance discussions on a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), according to sources.

The visit follows daylong talks held recently in New Delhi between US Chief Trade Negotiator Brendan Lynch and India’s Deputy Chief Negotiator Rajesh Agrawal. Both sides described the discussions as positive and constructive, with an agreement to accelerate efforts towards an early and mutually beneficial conclusion to the trade deal.

“The commerce minister’s visit is likely soon… may be in the next few days… for the trade talks,” sources told news agency PTI.

On September 16, the Ministry of Commerce issued a statement confirming that both delegations had agreed to intensify efforts to conclude the agreement swiftly. The meeting marked the fifth round of negotiations since both countries committed to pursuing a trade deal in February 2025.

“It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement,” the ministry said in a statement after a seven-hour meeting with US officials.

These talks took place amid heightened trade tensions, following the US imposition of a sweeping 50% tariff on Indian goods. US President Donald Trump imposed 25 per cent additional tariff on the country for its continued purchase of Russian crude oil over and above the 25 per cent reciprocal tariff that came into effect in August, fueling tensions between the two nations.

In February, leaders of the two countries directed officials to negotiate a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). It was planned to conclude the first tranche of the pact by the fall (October-November) of 2025.

Despite these challenges, both nations are aiming to more than double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, from the current level of USD 191 billion.

Minister Goyal last visited Washington in May 2025, where he held meetings with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The US remained India’s largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at USD 131.84 billion (USD 86.5 billion exports).

The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India’s total goods exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent in the country’s total merchandise trade.