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Goyal to Lead US Trade Talks on Sept. 22 as India Seeks Early BTA Breakthrough

The trip follows 'constructive' technical talks despite a 50% U.S. tariff plus a fresh H‑1B fee shock.

Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal.
The visit follows daylong discussions on Wednesday between US chief negotiator Brendan Lynch and his Indian counterpart, Agrawal, on the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) in New Delhi.
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Abu Dhabi, Sep 18 (ANI): Union Minister of Commerce & Industry, Piyush Goyal, speaks to the media, in Abu Dhabi on Thursday. (ANI Video Grab)

Overview

  • India officially confirmed that Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will lead a delegation on September 22 to Washington and New York, with chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal among the officials.
  • The visit builds on a seven‑hour September 16 meeting in New Delhi between USTR’s Brendan Lynch and Agrawal that both sides described as constructive with a decision to intensify efforts.
  • U.S. duties totaling 50%—a 25% reciprocal tariff effective August 7 and an additional 25% linked to Russian oil purchases effective August 27—remain in force, pressuring labour‑intensive exporters.
  • Negotiators have completed five rounds for a phased Bilateral Trade Agreement, with an initial tranche targeted for October–November 2025 and a goal of lifting bilateral trade toward $500 billion by 2030.
  • A new $100,000 H‑1B visa fee announced by President Donald Trump has added a significant complication for bilateral economic ties, according to government statements and industry reactions.