Tue Apr 22 07:00:00 UTC 2025: ## India and US inch closer to finalizing trade deal
**New Delhi, April 19** – India and the United States are in the final stages of negotiating a bilateral trade deal, aiming to boost their trade volume to $500 billion by 2030. A high-level delegation will travel to the US next week for crucial talks starting April 23rd. These discussions will cover key aspects across 19 chapters, including goods, services, and customs procedures.
Rajesh Agrawal, Additional Secretary in India’s Commerce Department, will lead the Indian delegation in the three-day meeting. The deal seeks to resolve remaining differences before formally launching negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA).
Currently, bilateral trade between India and the US stands at approximately $191 billion. The ambitious target of reaching $500 billion by 2030 requires significant liberalization. The US seeks tariff concessions on Indian industrial goods, electric vehicles, and agricultural products like wine, dairy, petrochemicals, apples, and tree nuts. In return, India aims to gain better access to the US market for its exports, including textiles, gems and jewelry, leather, plastics, and seafood.
While the first phase of BTA talks, initiated in March 2025, is expected to conclude by September-October this year, the path has not been without its challenges. The US imposed reciprocal tariffs on India in April 2024, although their implementation was later suspended for 90 days. The current negotiations aim to resolve these outstanding issues and pave the way for a mutually beneficial trade relationship.
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