Key facts
- India's trade secretary says talks with US are progressing well
- No major challenges foreseen in reaching a trade deal
- Bilateral talks cover tariffs, market access, and intellectual property
India is making solid headway in its trade negotiations with the United States and does not anticipate significant obstacles to sealing a deal, the country's trade secretary said on Sunday. The upbeat assessment, reported by Reuters, stands as the most confident official signal from New Delhi in weeks of closely watched bilateral talks.
The commerce secretary's remarks suggest that behind the scenes, negotiators on both sides have been narrowing their differences on key sticking points. India has been seeking tariff concessions on its exports while managing pressure from Washington on issues ranging from market access to intellectual property protections.
The timing of the statement is significant. With the Trump administration imposing broad tariff regimes globally, India has been navigating a careful path — seeking to protect domestic industries while avoiding punishing duties on its own export-dependent sectors. Officials have repeatedly signalled that New Delhi will not be rushed into an unfavourable agreement.
If a deal is concluded, it would be a landmark in India-US economic relations, potentially unlocking greater access for Indian goods in one of the world's largest consumer markets. For Indian manufacturers and exporters, the outcome of these talks could determine the competitive landscape for years to come.