Major progress on India–US trade deal, talks enter final stage; ‘the ball is now in Washington’s court’

New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): India and the United States appear to be moving closer to finalising a long-pending trade deal, with signs that tensions between the two sides are easing. Senior government officials said on Wednesday that the ongoing negotiations have seen significant progress and a concrete outcome could be reached soon.

Sources indicated that while political consensus has already been achieved on the India–European Union Free Trade Agreement, discussions on the India–US trade deal have also entered their final phase. Both sides are optimistic about a positive result.

According to officials, Indian negotiators remained in constant touch during the final round of talks with the European Union. At the same time, parallel discussions were held with the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR). India has placed its proposals on the table, and the next steps now depend on the American side.

‘The ball is now in America’s court’

Senior government sources said the true status of the negotiations is well understood by the US trade representative and their team, rather than by those making public statements. One senior official clearly stated, “India has already offered what it could. Now the ball is in America’s court.”

Focus on bilateral and multilateral agreements

Sources added that with increasing pressure on the World Trade Organization’s MFN-based framework, countries are now prioritising bilateral and multilateral trade agreements with key partners. India’s approach is not to treat one agreement as a substitute for another, but to build a wider network of trade deals that provide exporters and investors with access to large markets and long-term stability.

Push for exports and jobs

Government sources emphasised that India does not see the European Union and the United States as competing trade objectives. The priority is to expand exports to both regions, which would help boost employment and attract investment at home. While the exact structure of the India–US trade deal has not yet been made public, officials described the talks as extremely important and said they are now very close to success.