Overview
- Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India will not compromise on protections for farmers, fishermen, dairy producers and workers as it pursues a fair, equitable agreement with the United States.
- Five rounds of negotiations have concluded, and both sides previously signaled a goal of finalizing a first tranche by fall 2025, with timing described as flexible.
- An Indian official said another round may not be necessary at this stage and that the United States needs to respond to India’s detailed, WTO‑compliant proposals.
- India’s merchandise exports to the U.S. fell 11.93% to USD 5.46 billion in September while imports rose 11.78% to USD 3.98 billion, reflecting pressure from high U.S. tariffs.
- New Delhi is exploring alternative markets such as Russia for fisheries affected by steep duties, as President Donald Trump said the U.S. is “pretty close” to a fair deal and may lower tariffs at some point.