The U.S. ought to signal the free commerce settlement with India on the “dotted strains” if Washington is proud of what has been supplied by New Delhi, Commerce and Business Minister Piyush Goyal stated on Thursday (December 11, 2025).
Mr. Goyal welcomed the Trump administration’s views on India’s provide, however kept away from giving a deadline for the signing of the long-awaited free commerce settlement between the 2 nations.
The Minister was reacting to a remark by U.S. Commerce Consultant Jamieson Greer in Washington, who stated that the U.S. has acquired the “greatest ever” provide from India.
“His happiness may be very a lot welcome. And, I do consider that if they’re very comfortable, they need to be signing on the dotted strains,” Mr. Goyal advised reporters in Mumbai.
He, nevertheless, declined to specify India’s provide to the U.S.
The Minister stated there have been 5 rounds of negotiations with the U.S. on the commerce deal, and added that U.S. Deputy Commerce Consultant Rick Switzer’s ongoing go to to India shouldn’t be centred round negotiations.
Mr. Switzer’s go to to India, his first since taking on three months again, is an effort at attending to know one another nicely, Mr. Goyal stated, including that he had “substantial discussions” with the visiting official.
The 2-day talks between the U.S. delegation led by Mr. Switzer in New Delhi have been concluded on Thursday. They’ve held talks with the Indian workforce led by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.
The 2 sides have exchanged views on issues associated to India-U.S. commerce and financial ties, together with on the continuing negotiations for a mutually useful bilateral commerce settlement (BTA).
In the meantime, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday held a telephonic dialog with U.S. President Donald Trump that targeted on enhancing financial ties at a time when the 2 international locations are eyeing a commerce deal.
The 2 leaders exchanged views on increasing cooperation in commerce, essential applied sciences, vitality, defence and safety, officers stated.
Additional, when requested about Chief Financial Advisor V. Anantha Nageswaran’s assertion that the pact with the U.S. could be signed in March subsequent yr, Mr. Goyal stated he isn’t conscious of the remark and kept away from placing any timeline.
“A deal is just carried out when either side stand to learn. And I do not suppose we must always ever negotiate with deadlines or laborious stops since you are likely to make errors then,” Mr. Goyal stated, limiting himself to saying that negotiations with the U.S. are progressing nicely.
Talking at a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee listening to on Tuesday in Washington, Greer stated there’s resistance in India to sure row crops and different meat and merchandise. Row crops within the U.S. embody corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton.
“They’ve been very tough nuts to crack…however they’ve been fairly ahead leaning….the kind of presents that they’ve been speaking to us about …have been the most effective now we have ever acquired as a rustic, so I feel that may be a viable different market,” he stated.
These remarks are essential as either side try to conclude the primary section of the proposed bilateral commerce settlement.
The talks are essential because the Trump administration has imposed steep 50% tariffs on Indian items coming into American markets. The outcomes will even have a constructive affect on the trajectory of the rupee, which has depreciated to lifetime lows these days and likewise breached the psychologically essential 90-to-a-dollar mark.
The Indian business and exporters are eagerly ready for the conclusion of the negotiations and announcement of the deal, because the excessive import duties are hurting their shipments to America.
Although they’re exploring different markets to keep up their export income, the U.S. is a key vacation spot for them because it accounts for about 18% of the nation’s exports.
First, the U.S. imposed a 25% responsibility on Indian items, stating commerce deficit considerations with India, which stood at round $46 billion in 2024-25. An extra 25% penalty was imposed in a while India for getting Russian crude.
India has said that the decision of those tariffs could be key to firming up the primary section of the commerce deal.
As a part of the pact, the U.S. is looking for responsibility concessions on agri merchandise like almonds, corn and apples, and industrial items. India has strongly opposed any concessions on the agri and dairy sectors. India has said that it’ll not compromise the pursuits of farmers and MSMEs.
Printed – December 12, 2025 06:51 am IST
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