RIGHT TO FREEDOM OF SPEECH CRUCIAL, SAYS VAISHNAW

India and the United States are in discussion to achieve a "mutually beneficial, balanced bilateral trade agreement" (BTA) and the trade talks are "progressing well", Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal said on Thursday.

- Rajeev Jayaswal

NEW DELHI:

On specific questions related to the looming threat of retaliatory tariffs on multiple countries, including India by the Trump administration from April 2, Goyal said, "I think trade negotiations are going on for a bilateral trade agreement. It's a matter that's known to everybody ever since we saw the joint press conference with President Trump and Prime Minister Modi, both announcing the beginning or the start of negotiations to be concluded by (the) Fall, 2025." The minister was speaking at the Times Now Summit 2025 in New Delhi.

He said the discussions are ongoing. "They're progressing well, and will be for the good of both the United States and India," he added. The minister said he is in "regular and constant" dialogue with the industry representing every sector and different organisations related to agriculture, exports, engineering, electronic and textiles. Various interest groups are in regular dialogue with the government, and "all are very excited about a potential bilateral trade agreement" with the US.