Trade Talks Gain Momentum as India, US Work to Finalise Interim Pact

India and the United States are moving steadily towards an interim bilateral trade agreement, with only a handful of issues left to be resolved, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Tuesday, signalling continued momentum in economic engagement between the two strategic partners.

Addressing a weekly media briefing, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said both governments have made substantial progress during negotiations and remain committed to concluding the proposed interim arrangement at the earliest.

" Both sides have done a lot of work in this regard. There are certain issues that need finalisation. Both countries are working towards finalising the interim bilateral trade agreement, " Jaiswal said while responding to a question on the ongoing negotiations.

Although the MEA did not specify the pending issues, officials indicated that discussions have progressed significantly over recent months, reflecting sustained diplomatic and economic engagement between New Delhi and Washington.

Trade negotiations have gathered pace following multiple rounds of discussions involving officials from both sides. A delegation from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) visited India in June to push forward negotiations and explore ways to bridge differences on outstanding matters.

The visit formed part of a wider effort by both countries to deepen economic cooperation amid expanding strategic ties across sectors such as technology, defence, supply chains and critical manufacturing.