A United States trade delegation is expected to visit India next week to advance ongoing negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday, amid growing optimism over the possibility of an interim deal being finalised in the coming months.
Addressing a media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said trade discussions between the two countries have remained “positive and constructive” so far.
“We had a trade team that visited the United States in the month of April. We are now expecting a team from the United States to visit India next week, where the negotiations will be taken forward,” Jaiswal said.
The MEA did not disclose the detailed agenda for the upcoming discussions but indicated that negotiations are progressing steadily.
Earlier this month, the government had announced that the US delegation, led by the chief negotiator, would visit India from June 1 to 4 to finalise details of an interim agreement and continue negotiations under the broader India-US bilateral trade framework. The discussions are expected to cover market access, customs and trade facilitation, non-tariff barriers, investment promotion and economic security cooperation.
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor expressed confidence that the trade agreement could be concluded in the coming weeks and months.
Speaking at the US-India TRUST Initiative event at Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT-Delhi), Gor said bilateral trade between India and the US has expanded significantly over the past two decades.
“In just over two decades, bilateral trade has grown from 20 billion dollars to over 220 billion dollars in goods and services. That reflects deeper engagement and stronger economic integration,” he said.
Gor added that India had recently sent a delegation to Washington to finalise the “last one per cent” of the proposed agreement.
“Next week we will welcome a US delegation here to continue those talks. We fully expect that the trade deal will be signed over the next few weeks and months,” he said.
The US envoy described the India-US relationship as one of the defining partnerships of the 21st century and said both countries are well positioned to leverage opportunities in emerging sectors such as advanced manufacturing, digital trade, energy, artificial intelligence and critical minerals.
He also highlighted growing cooperation in the critical minerals sector following India’s launch of the National Critical Minerals Mission. Referring to recent scientific exchanges and research collaborations, Gor said both countries are working to diversify and secure global supply chains related to mining, refining and recycling of strategic minerals.
“India’s growing economy and infrastructure needs align strongly with American expertise in energy, aviation, research and development, advanced manufacturing and digital infrastructure,” he said.
Gor further called for deeper research collaborations between Indian and American institutions, saying joint projects and academic partnerships would help drive technological innovation and commercialisation in both countries.
During the MEA briefing, Jaiswal also responded to a question regarding a viral video allegedly showing racism against Indians in the United States.
“I have not seen the post. However, racism of any kind, anywhere, is unacceptable,” he said.
(With agency inputs)
