“The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement,” the commerce ministry statement said on Saturday.
Union Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal will lead a delegation to the United States this Monday, September 22 as India-US trade talks gain momentum.
The visit comes after the recent daylong discussions in New Delhi between US Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and his Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal on the proposed bilateral trade agreement.
“The delegation plans to take forward the discussions with a view to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement,” the commerce ministry statement said on Saturday.
The team will comprise special secretary and chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal and it will also visit New York to hold discussions with American officials, according to reports.
On September 16, the commerce ministry said that daylong discussions with the visiting US team on a bilateral trade deal were positive, and both sides agreed to push for an early and mutually beneficial conclusion of the agreement.
“It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement,” the ministry said in a statement after a seven-hour meeting with US officials.
The talks were important as the US has imposed a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods.
Some reports suggested that talks would also be held on the political front by External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio when they meet on the sidelines of the UNGA in New York next week.
Jaishankar’s travel plans to the US are being worked out and an official announcement is awaited, Indian Express said in a report.
“A team from United States Trade Representative, led by Assistant USTR Brendan Lynch, had meetings at the Ministry of Commerce on September 16 to take forward the ongoing negotiations for a trade deal with the US. The discussions were positive and forward looking covering various aspects of the trade deal. It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement,” Randhir Jaiswal, spokesperson for the Ministry of External Affairs said on Friday.
