India-US trade talks enter final stretch as Goyal, Greer and Gor meet in Delhi

Trade negotiations between India and the United States have entered a decisive final stretch. On Tuesday, newly arrived United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer kicked off a series of meetings with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at Vanijya Bhawan to hammer out the final details of an interim bilateral trade pact.

The ministerial-level huddle follows a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian, France, last week, where both leaders issued explicit directives to conclude the long-pending agreement at the earliest.

Moving 'decisively' toward a final deal

The momentum was captured by the US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, who joined the American trade delegation at the national capital. Taking to social media platform X, Ambassador Gor expressed strong optimism regarding the trajectory of the talks.

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"Great to be with Minister PiyushGoyal and US Trade Rep Ambassador Greer today in New Delhi," Ambassador Gor posted.

The negotiations, originally set in motion by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi in February 2025, are attempting to balance market access demands with national economic priorities. The two nations are racing to formalise the agreement before July 24, when a temporary 10 per cent tariff architecture enacted by Washington earlier this year is set to expire.

Also read | From Assam to Tamil Nadu: As trade talks gather pace, US envoy Sergio Gor expands outreach beyond Delhi

Navigating the terms of the agreement

If finalised next month as expected, the interim agreement would serve as a stepping stone toward a broader and more comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) between India and the United States. Officials on both sides are currently focused on resolving key market access issues and aligning their respective trade priorities.

The United States, led by Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, is seeking long-term commitments from India to expand access for American agricultural products, energy exports, defence equipment and advanced commercial aircraft. Washington views these sectors as central to deepening bilateral trade and investment ties.

India, meanwhile, is focused on protecting its domestic industries from potential US tariff measures under ongoing Section 301 proceedings. New Delhi is also pushing for improved access for its services sector and manufactured exports, which remain key drivers of the country's trade relationship with the United States.

After concluding his two-day visit to New Delhi, Greer is expected to travel to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, as part of Washington's broader effort to strengthen trade and economic engagement across Central and South Asia.