FIRST TRANCHE OF INDIA-US TRADE TALKS NEAR CLOSURE

Tariff exemption on agri products to help $1 bn worth of Indian exports

- PUSHPITA DEY @ New Delhi

WITH the first tranche of India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) heading to a closure, both the countries are aiming to address the issue of reciprocal tariff in the negotiations, confirmed sources from the Ministry of Commerce on Monday.

"The trade deal has two parts, one part will take its own time, and the other part is the first tranche which can address all kinds of tariffs. We remain engaged, the discussions are on and part of an agreement that covers reciprocal tariffs should happen sooner rather than later," said an official aware of the matter.