US top negotiator in India to finalize Bilateral Trade Agreement |
US President Donald Trump admitted on 12th September 2025 that 50% tariffs on trade with India caused a rift. But, Trump sent chief negotiator Brendan Lynch, Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, on 15th September 2025 to mend, resolve and conclude a bilateral trade agreement. Lynch is accompanied by a team of top officials who have been engaged with India even during the extremely perceptible public dispute. President Trump, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Indian External Affairs Minister Dr. S Jaishankar, and others, have made no bones about differences and the rift. Trump said the 50% tariffs were a strong message to India as Russia`s biggest customer of oil and other goods to punish those helping Russia in the war against Ukraine. India`s chief negotiator Rajesh Agarwal has clarified that during the last two months both sides were talking virtually. They now meet face to face on 16th September for a while day.
This meeting that was to take place in July and then August but didn`t happen. Agarwal said the outcome of the meeting determine the future of trade negotiations. It is evident that India and the US are both hurting in many ways beyond the financial stress. That`s why both sides continue to emphasize the positive and valuable comprehensive strategic partnership. Indian Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said now there was a `positive frame of mind` on both sides to bring the negotiations to a closure. Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu said shrimp exporters lost Rs. 25,000 crores or nearly US$ 8 billion in revenue and some businesses came to a halt. On the US side, defence giant Boeing Company wants to conclude a US$ 4 billion deal on reconnaissance aircraft with India. President Trump`s Ambassador nominee to India, Sergio Gor, says India and the US are not that far apart on the trade deal. During his confirmation hearings in the US Senate, Gor said Trump had a `deep friendship` with Modi and the deal was finally at the stage of negotiating the nitty-gritty. Indian Commerce & Industry Minister Piyush Goyal echoed the same sentiment saying there was no need to panic. Gor said the US had even invited Indian Ministers after the officials talks in Delhi. Gor also said that President Trump may travel to India later in 2025 to attend the Quad leaders` summit.
Notably, Gor thanked India for a balancing role within BRICS, particularly resisting efforts from China and others to move away from the U.S. Dollar.
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