Overview

• Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal reiterated that India will sign international trade agreements only if they serve the country’s national interest.
• He confirmed that India and the United States completed their fifth round of bilateral trade talks in Washington with negotiations continuing behind closed doors.
• The government will conduct negotiations in the negotiating room instead of through media statements and will review progress once the team returns.
• Micro, small and medium enterprises have been urged to focus on research, innovation and quality while reporting non-tariff barriers for government action.
• Goyal highlighted that a transparent restructuring under the Modi administration has strengthened the banking sector and reduced non-performing assets.