U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer concluded his two-day visit to New Delhi, having held multiple meetings with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal during which they reviewed the core elements of the interim trade agreement as well as the broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), the Ministry of Commerce said on Wednesday (June 24, 2026).
While both sides “noted substantial progress” by the negotiating teams in recent months on the deals, the statement failed to mention any deadlines for either deal. The BTA had been announced in February 2025 and was scheduled to be completed by the fall of that year. The framework for the interim agreement was signed in February this year, and the deal itself was to have been completed by April-May 2026.
Congress urges Centre not to rush to sign trade pact with the U.S.
“The visit marked a key step in ongoing efforts to advance a balanced, mutually beneficial India-U.S. BTA and to finalise an interim deal in line with the joint statement of 7 February 2026,” the statement said.
Why has India-U.S. trade deal been delayed? | Explained
It added that Mr. Greer and Mr. Goyal conducted a “comprehensive review” of the core BTA elements, including enhanced market access, digital trade, supply chain resilience, reduction of non-tariff barriers, and expanded cooperation in strategic sectors.
“Both sides noted substantial progress by negotiating teams in recent months and welcomed the momentum from successive technical and ministerial-level engagements,” the statement added. “Discussions focused on pathways to conclude an interim agreement as an important milestone toward a comprehensive BTA.”
It said that, during the meetings, both sides reaffirmed their commitment to an agreement that is balanced, commercially meaningful, and that delivers “tangible benefits” for businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers in both countries.
“Recognising the growing significance of the India-U.S. economic partnership amid evolving global trade dynamics, both sides reiterated their shared goal of expanding bilateral trade, fostering innovation, and building resilient, trusted supply chains,” the statement said.
Published - June 24, 2026 06:31 pm IST
India / India / India-United States / USA / trade agreements / trade balance
Source: The Hindu - India News
