Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Apr 9: In a significant development, External Affairs Minister Dr S. Jaishankar revealed that India is likely the only country to have reached an understanding with the United States to conclude a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by the fall of this year.

Speaking at the ‘News18 Rising Bharat Summit’, Jaishankar said India has taken a strategic approach in engaging with the Trump administration and expressed optimism about the progress made so far.

“We decided to engage the Trump administration early on these issues. Both sides were constructive, and we agreed to try and conclude a bilateral trade agreement by fall of this year,” the minister stated.

The minister’s comments come as the US begins implementing reciprocal tariffs, with Indian goods facing up to 27% tariffs. The move underscores the urgency of cementing trade frameworks that can mitigate adverse impacts.

Jaishankar also pointed out that India stands out globally for having achieved such a mutual commitment under President Trump’s second term.

“This has long been an objective for us. Our strategy is focused, and the goal is to conclude a BTA to deal with this situation effectively,” he added.

After Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with US President Donald Trump in Washington DC earlier this year, both sides announced plans to negotiate and finalise the first tranche of the agreement by fall 2025, aiming to boost bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

According to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, expert-level virtual discussions are expected to begin shortly, leading to in-person negotiations in the near future.