India, US Trade Talks On At Different Levels: Official

Officials have confirmed that India and the United States are currently engaged in multilevel discussions encompassing both trade and non-trade matters.

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is presently in the United States for trade negotiations, accompanied by senior ministry officials including special secretary and India's chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal.

"Talks are happening at different levels," an official source confirmed, adding that the ministerial delegation is expected to return from the United States later this week.

Minister Goyal has already held discussions with his American counterpart during this visit.

The trip follows recent day-long discussions in New Delhi between US Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and Agrawal regarding the proposed bilateral trade agreement.

On September 16, the commerce ministry issued a statement indicating that discussions with the visiting US team on a bilateral trade deal were positive, with both sides committing to pursue an early and mutually beneficial conclusion to the agreement.

This visit by high-ranking US trade officials marks the first such engagement since the implementation of a 25 percent tariff and an additional 25 percent penalty on Indian products entering the American market due to India's purchases of Russian crude oil.

In February this year, leaders from both nations directed their officials to negotiate a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

The initial phase of the agreement was scheduled for completion by fall (October-November) of 2025. To date, five rounds of negotiations have been conducted. The agreement aims to more than double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030 from the current USD 191 billion.

Mr. Goyal previously visited Washington in May for trade talks, where he engaged in deliberations with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

The United States has maintained its position as India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at USD 131.84 billion (including USD 86.5 billion in exports).

The US accounts for approximately 18 percent of India's total goods exports, 6.22 percent of imports, and 10.73 percent of the country's total merchandise trade.