Daijiworld Media Network – Washington

Washington, Apr 21: Negotiations between India and the United States on a long-awaited trade agreement have gathered momentum, with both sides reporting significant progress in the latest round of talks held in Washington, DC.

A senior US official described the discussions as “positive and productive,” indicating that most of the major issues have already been resolved, with only a few minor gaps remaining to be addressed before finalisation.

The current round of negotiations is being led by Darpan Jain from the Indian side and Brendan Lynch from the Office of the United States Trade Representative, reflecting high-level engagement from both governments.

Officials familiar with the talks said the draft framework for an interim agreement was agreed earlier this year, marking an important step forward in the ongoing trade dialogue aimed at reducing tariffs and boosting bilateral trade.

US Ambassador Sergio Gor termed the negotiations a “win-win” for both nations, expressing optimism over the outcome of the agreement.

Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal also confirmed that the first phase of the deal is close to completion, stating that India’s interests have been well protected. He said India has secured one of the “best deals” compared to its global peers and highlighted that the country is now confident and competitive on the world stage.

Goyal further noted that India-US ties go far beyond trade, describing the relationship as “multidimensional” with strong cooperation in technology, critical minerals, and defence. He said the partnership between the two nations would play a key role in shaping the future global order.