Overview
- Indian and US officials are finalising dates for New Delhi meetings, which would be the second visit since the tariff measures, to pursue a first-phase agreement addressing reciprocal duties.
- Commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal has said India hopes to conclude the framework this year to deliver relief for exporters.
- Reports differ on who will lead the US team, with an anonymous official citing Deputy USTR Rick Switzer while other coverage names Brendan Lynch as chief negotiator.
- Talks are proceeding on two tracks: a tariff-focused framework and a comprehensive Bilateral Trade Agreement, with six rounds completed since leaders set a 2030 goal of $500 billion in trade.
- US import charges reported at up to 50% have coincided with an 8.58% drop in October exports to $6.3 billion, pressuring sectors such as textiles, gems and jewellery, shrimp, and leather as orders shift to lower-tariff competitors.