USTR clears treaty, Trump to take call

Negotiators extend Washington stay to clinch trade pact

- Dhirendra Kumar

The first tranche of the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) is now awaiting US President Donald Trump's final approval, after being greenlit by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, three people directly involved in the process said on the condition of anonymity.

The key sticking points remain the same as reported by Mint on 11 June. "The final stretch of India-US trade talks has centred around sensitive sectors such as dairy, agriculture, digital, genetically modified (GM) seeds and medical services, with Washington pushing for greater access while New Delhi is seeking a balanced agreement that safeguards its vital sectors," said the first of the three people cited above.

With the US pause on reciprocal tariffs set to end on 9 July and the Trump administration shifting its stance from mutual tariff reduction to seeking greater market access, Indian negotiators are burning the midnight oil to secure a "respectable deal," the person added.