India and United States begin four‑day trade talks in New Delhi

Chief negotiators Brendan Lynch (United States) and Darpan Jain (India) opened a four‑day series of talks in New Delhi from June 1 to June 4 to finalize an interim trade agreement and advance a broader India‑US Bilateral Trade Agreement. The agenda covers market access, customs and trade facilitation, non‑tariff barriers, investment promotion, economic‑security cooperation and digital‑trade rules.

The discussions build on a framework agreed in February that called for the United States to cut Indian tariffs to 18 % from 50 % and to remove a 25 % surcharge linked to India’s purchase of Russian oil. A February 20 U.S. Supreme Court ruling overturned the reciprocal‑tariff regime and prompted a temporary 10 % global tariff, forcing negotiators to recalibrate concessions.

India has offered to eliminate or reduce tariffs on a wide range of U.S. industrial and agricultural products—including dried distillers’ grains, tree nuts, fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits—and signaled a willingness to purchase up to $500 billion of U.S. goods over five years, spanning energy, aircraft, technology, precious metals and coking coal. In the 2025‑26 fiscal year, India exported $87.3 billion to the United States and imported $52.9 billion, keeping the United States as its second‑largest trading partner.

U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor said, “Our current interim trade agreement is on the table for us to finalise, and that will unlock prosperity for both of our countries,” expressing confidence that a deal could be signed in the coming weeks.