November 6, 2025
Goyal said the talks are “going well” but involve “sensitive and serious issues,” which will take time to resolve
He was speaking to reporters in Auckland, where he is on a four-day official visit leading a business delegation
Five rounds of talks have been completed so far; the sixth round is expected before the end of the year
The first phase of the pact is targeted for completion by autumn 2025, as directed by the leaders of both countries
India and the United States are engaged in ongoing negotiations for a proposed bilateral trade agreement, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal confirmed.
Speaking to reporters in Auckland, Goyal said the talks were progressing well, though the presence of “many sensitive and serious issues” meant that discussions would naturally take some time.
“Talks are going well and are continuously going on. There are many sensitive issues, many serious issues, so it is natural that it will take some time,” he said, responding to a question on the status of negotiations.
The Minister is currently in New Zealand on a four-day official visit, heading a business delegation to boost trade and investment engagement.
So far, five rounds of negotiations have been completed between the two sides. A team of Indian officials led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal held talks with U.S. counterparts in Washington from October 15–17. The dialogue forms part of the first phase of the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
The framework for the pact was first announced in February 2025, when leaders from both countries tasked negotiators to conclude the initial tranche by autumn 2025.
Officials said the discussions are crucial given the trade tensions that have persisted since the U.S. administration under President Donald Trump imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, including a 25% additional import duty on crude oil imports from Russia.
The proposed agreement is expected to help restore momentum in trade flows, address tariff-related challenges, and expand cooperation across goods, services, investment, and digital trade.
According to Commerce Ministry data, the United States remained India’s largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in FY2024–25, with bilateral trade valued at $131.84 billion, including $86.5 billion in exports. The U.S. accounted for 18% of India’s total goods exports and 10.7% of total merchandise trade.
However, India’s merchandise exports to the U.S. fell 11.9% in September to $5.46 billion due to the high tariffs, even as imports rose 11.8% to $3.98 billion.
The agreement, once finalised, aims to double the bilateral trade volume to $500 billion by 2030, reflecting the growing strategic and economic alignment between the two nations.
Source: The Hindu