Committed to 'productive, balanced' trade ties with India: US before BTA talks

The US is committed to advancing a "productive and balanced" trade relationship with India, a spokesperson for its embassy in New Delhi said Monday, ahead of trade talks and the April 2 rollout of reciprocal tariffs, which American President Donald Trump suggested could have "flexibility" in implementation.

- SHREYA NANDI

Brendan Lynch, assistant US trade representative (USTR) for South and Central Asia, will lead a team of US officials on a five-day visit to India starting March 25 for bilateral trade discussions, the spokesperson said.

The talks are expected to hammer out the details of the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA), with Lynch serving as the chief negotiator.

The aim is to finalize the first phase of the deal by "the fall" of 2025. During the visit, meetings with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and External Affairs Secretary Vikram Misri are expected.

"We value our ongoing engagement with the Government of India on trade and investment matters, and look forward to continuing these discussions in a constructive, equitable, and forward-looking manner," the embassy spokesperson said.