India, US aim trade deal by 8 July, talks next week

Delegation set to leave for US; No unilateral zero-tariff offer from Indian side

- Dhirendra Kumar & Rhik Kundu

India and the US are likely to sign their long-awaited bilateral trade agreement before 8 July when the 90-day pause on the US's reciprocal tariff action expires, two government officials aware of the trade negotiations said.

A high-level Indian delegation, led by commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal and India's chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, is heading to Washington for in-person negotiations with their US counterparts. While some members of the Indian team are scheduled to leave on Thursday, others will depart on Friday, the officials said on the condition of anonymity.

"Talks are moving in a positive direction. Both sides are upbeat and confident. We are hoping the agreement can be signed well ahead of the deadline set by the leadership — which originally targeted the fall of 2025, between September and November," one of the two officials said.

Queries emailed to the commerce ministry remained unanswered.

The urgency stems from the reciprocal tariff framework announced by the US earlier this year, under which a 90-day pause was granted to key trade partners, including India, to allow time for negotiations, after the announcement of steep reciprocal tariffs on 2 April.