Overview

• Indian and US delegations will meet in Washington for three days starting April 23 to advance negotiations on a proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA).
• The finalized terms of reference (ToRs) include 19 chapters covering tariffs, non-tariff barriers, goods, services, customs facilitation, and regulatory issues.
• India’s chief negotiator, Rajesh Agrawal, recently appointed as the next commerce secretary, will lead the Indian delegation in the first in-person talks.
• The talks aim to capitalize on the 90-day suspension of US reciprocal tariffs announced on April 9, with both nations targeting an initial agreement by fall 2025.
• The proposed agreement seeks to more than double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, with discussions on tariff reductions in key sectors like agriculture, textiles, and industrial goods.