India, US Finalising Interim Trade Deal, Delhi Team May Return To Washington Soon: Sources

Last Updated:July 10, 2025, 13:25 IST

The Indian negotiating team may soon return to Washington to resume in-person discussions and accelerate progress on the deal.

India and the US are negotiating an interim trade pact, which is expected to be announced before soon. (Image for representation: AFP)

India and the United States are currently engaged in packaging an Interim Trade Deal, with discussions continuing to focus on finalising the contours of both the Interim arrangement and the broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). According to sources familiar with the talks, the Indian negotiating team may soon return to Washington to resume in-person discussions and accelerate progress on the deal.

India is actively working to finalise a trade agreement with the United States, with a goal to conclude an initial phase of the pact by September or October this year, Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal said on Thursday. Agrawal, who is also the chief negotiator for the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement, made the remarks during an event focused on export logistics.

He noted that both sides are first aiming to wrap up an interim agreement before progressing to the broader bilateral framework. “We are now integrating with major markets," Agrawal said, highlighting recent progress in international trade negotiations. “We just concluded a deal with the UK, and negotiations with the European Union are in advanced stages. We are also trying to finalise a deal with the USA."

Agrawal added that India has so far signed over 14 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) covering 26 countries, including recent deals with Australia and the UAE. He also pointed to ongoing talks with Chile, Peru, and New Zealand as part of India’s broader strategy to deepen its global trade integration with leading economies.

News india India, US Finalising Interim Trade Deal, Delhi Team May Return To Washington Soon: Sources