Overview

• The United States and India are in advanced talks to finalize a bilateral trade agreement aimed at reducing tariffs and expanding market access.
• Vice President J.D. Vance has described Prime Minister Narendra Modi as a tough negotiator but expressed confidence in reaching a deal shortly.
• The proposed agreement seeks to open Indian markets to American farmers and technology, addressing long-standing trade imbalances.
• President Trump’s reciprocal tariffs, announced in April and paused for 90 days, have spurred negotiations with India and over 70 other countries.
• The deal is part of the broader 'Mission 500' initiative, launched in February, to double US-India trade to $500 billion by 2030.