Overview

• Assistant USTR Brendan Lynch met India's chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal on Tuesday for the first in-person engagement since the tariff escalation, officials said the talks have begun.
• Indian officials described the meeting as a precursor rather than the sixth formal round, focused on charting a roadmap and reviving the Bilateral Trade Agreement timetable targeting an initial tranche by autumn 2025.
• Washington’s cumulative 50% duties remain in force—25% reciprocal plus a 25% penalty linked to Russian crude purchases—with India’s exports to the U.S. falling to $6.86 billion in August from $8.01 billion in July.
• New Delhi continues to reject wider access for U.S. agriculture and dairy and defends Russian oil imports on economic grounds, reiterating that farmer, dairy and MSME interests will be protected in any deal.
• Recent public messages from President Trump and Prime Minister Modi signaled a softer tone, while U.S. officials flagged potential minister-level talks in Washington and Indian exporters reported order cancellations under the higher tariffs.