“India and the United States (U.S) are in continuous dialogue on the proposed bilateral trade agreement, and all possibilities are there to meet the November deadline for concluding the talks,” Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal stated on Tuesday (October 7, 2025).
On the potential of the following spherical of trade negotiations in a bodily mode, he stated each chance exists, however with the U.S. Government at present in shutdown mode, it stays to be seen how, the place, and when the following spherical of talks can happen.
“You all know, the U.S. government is currently in shutdown mode. So, keeping that in mind, we’ll have to see how, where, and when the discussions can take place,” he instructed the reporters in Doha.
The U.S. Government has stopped working since midnight on October 1, 2025 as Congress did not cross a funding Bill. Theoretically, this implies many authorities employees is not going to be paid for now, and repair centres are closed. However, vital operations, corresponding to in the sector of defence and social work, will proceed to operate.
Mr. Goyal is in Doha for a one-day official go to. He is main a enterprise delegation and discussing methods to spice up trade and funding ties between the 2 nations. “We are in constant dialogue with the U.S. (on the trade pact), and talks are on at various levels. We will give more information on this soon on how we are thinking to take it forward,” he stated.
When requested if the 2 sides are sticking to the November deadline to conclude the negotiations, he stated: “There is every possibility.” Last month, the Minister led an official delegation to New York for trade talks. After that assembly, India and the U.S. determined to proceed negotiations for an early conclusion of a mutually useful bilateral trade settlement. Both sides held constructive conferences on varied elements of the trade deal.
During the go to, the Minister held conferences with United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer and U.S. Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor.
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Those deliberations have been vital as they happened after the U.S. imposed a 25% reciprocal tariff and a further 25% penalty on Indian items coming into the American market for buying Russian crude oil. At current, a complete of fifty% extra import obligation is imposed on Indian items.
In February this yr, leaders of the 2 nations directed officers to barter a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
It was deliberate to conclude the primary tranche of the pact by the autumn (October-November) of 2025. So far, 5 rounds of negotiations have been held. The pact goals to greater than double the bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 from the present $191 billion.
The U.S. remained India’s largest buying and selling companion for the fourth consecutive yr in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at $131.84 billion ($86.5 billion exports). The U.S. accounts for about 18% of India’s whole items exports, 6.22% in imports and 10.73% in the nation’s whole merchandise trade.
