ANI quoted government sources as saying that the team that the United States was scheduled to participate in the next round of bilateral trade negotiations will no longer come to India. The team will arrive in the sixth round of negotiations on August 25.
“The U.S. trade team did not participate in the next round of trade negotiations. The U.S. team was scheduled to visit India on August 25 for the sixth round of negotiations,” a government source told ANI.
Five rounds of negotiations have been held, and the last round will be held in Washington, D.C. from July 14 to 18, 2025. India and the United States are discussing tariff concessions and market acquisitions for key sectors to finalize the interim agreement.
The negotiations cover various areas including market access, sanitation and phytosanitary measures (SP), trade technology barriers (TBT), digital trade, customs and trade amenities. Officials on both sides negotiated intensively, made progress, achieved balanced agreements and achieved initial success.
Regarding whether the U.S. team is going to negotiate in the last week of August, Commerce Secretary Sunil Barthwal said: “As the end of the last week of August, we will be able to know how the round will develop.”
Commenting on US BTA negotiations, he said, “Our Bilateral Trade talks negotiations with the United States are going on. We are engaged. Bilateral delegations are happening at different levels. One is at the negotiated team’s level. Another one happens at the minister’s level. Third, happens at the diplomatic level, and we also engage with different industries of the US, companies and everybody to look into their issues. So this negotiation is happening across various channels.”
He added: “These negotiations are happening and we are involved. The United States is a very important partner for us. India is also an important partner for the United States.”
Prime Minister Narendra Modi issued a joint statement during his visit to Washington, D.C., with the goal of increasing bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 and signing a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) in that direction.
The two countries aim to complete the first batch of BTAs by 2025. India and the United States have set to double their deals and double them by 2030.
India is seeking to improve market access to its goods and services, while the United States is urging greater market access in key areas.
Earlier, a senior government official said he was concerned about the impact of U.S. tariffs on India’s exports, saying the government is closely following the sectors that are most affected by the U.S. market and is working with key stakeholders to assess vulnerability.
“We keep in touch with stakeholders. We understand which departments are more susceptible to our influence, and our commodity divisions are being discussed with various EPCs. The minister also has meetings with EPCs, especially with those labor-intensive. I also have officials who are meeting with our officials, who are talking to EPCs, trying to get to know about our officials who say to us, and that’s our officials, which is an official.
The official explained: “Some other companies are more diverse, not only exporting to the United States, but also exporting to the EU, exporting to the UK, exporting to other countries, now, companies are also involved in their exports, they may involve some of your challenges, so they can also engage in various challenges in other countries. The export promotion task is very, very important.”
U.S. President Donald Trump said trade negotiations will be held with India before resolving the tariff dispute. He said after the government decided to double tariffs on Indian imports. “No, until we solve this problem,” he replied when ANI asked in the Oval Office, hoping to resume talks after the new 50% tariff.
The White House issued an executive order on Wednesday, raising the total tax rate to 50%. The government cited national security and foreign policy issues, specifically pointing to the ongoing Russian oil imports in India.
The order claims that these imports pose “anomal and extraordinary threats” to the United States, either directly or through intermediaries, and justifies the economic measures in emergency departments.
In early August, the U.S. imposed a 25% tariff on most Indian goods, which since August 7, imposed exemptions on pharmaceuticals, electronics, semiconductors and energy products. But U.S. President Donald Trump further imposed a 25% tariff on India, which put the total 50%.
According to U.S. officials, the initial 25% tariff will take effect on August 7. The additional taxation will take effect within 21 days and apply to all Indian goods entering U.S. ports – with the exception of items already shipped and certain exempt categories.
The order also provides flexibility for the president to modify measures, depending on geopolitical situations or changes in retaliatory actions in India or other countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s opposition in a speech at the Swaminathan Centennial International Conference in New Delhi shows that New Delhi will not retreat in the face of economic pressure.
“For us, our farmers’ interests are our top priority,” Prime Minister Modi said. “India will never compromise on the interests of farmers, fishermen and dairy farmers. I know we will have to pay a heavy price for it, and I am ready for it. India is ready.”
India has been opposed to open sensitive sectors, such as agriculture and dairy, in international competition, citing potential impacts on millions of rural livelihoods.
Input with ANI
