Evian [France], June 18 (ANI): India and the United States on Wednesday reviewed progress in negotiations for an interim bilateral trade agreement during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) announced that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will visit India next week as part of these discussions.
Progress in Trade Talks
In a statement, the MEA said PM Modi and President Trump noted with satisfaction the significant progress made in negotiations toward an interim bilateral trade agreement. They instructed officials to work toward a balanced, mutually beneficial, and commercially meaningful agreement at the earliest. The statement added, "The US Trade Representative, Mr. Jamieson Greer, will be visiting India next week in this connection."
Trump's Remarks on Trade Deal
The trade deal was a key part of the discussion between PM Modi and President Trump at the G7 summit. President Trump said the two sides were "very close" to finalizing the trade deal. He stated, "We had, in particular, some very good conversations with Prime Minister Modi, India. And we're doing trade deals, we're doing a lot of things, a lot of things are happening between the United States and India." Trump also praised PM Modi's role in encouraging investment in the United States, saying, "Prime Minister is building a lot in the United States. He's spending a lot of money in the United States. So we appreciate that job."
Details of Greer's Visit
Earlier this week, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal informed that Greer's visit aims to finalize the framework of the interim bilateral trade agreement. "USTR is coming on the evening of June 22nd. On 23-24 June, he will be engaging with our Minister for Commerce and Industry. We expect that discussions will be centered around giving final touches to the framework deal and also on the larger BTA that has been under discussion between the two sides," he said.
Addressing Tariff Measures
Greer's visit comes as India remains engaged with the United States on proposed tariff measures under Section 301 proceedings and simultaneously works toward finalizing a bilateral trade framework agreement. Agrawal added that the proposed trade agreement would address broader trade concerns. "As far as the trade deal is concerned, I think the trade deal covers the entire gamut of trade relationship between India and the US, so definitely whenever we finalize and sign the deal, I think they try to have clear answers on the 301 investigations," he said.
Review of Broader Partnership
Beyond trade, the two leaders reviewed substantial progress achieved under the India-U.S. COMPACT (Catalyzing Opportunities for Military Partnership, Accelerated Commerce and Technology) since their meeting in Washington D.C. in February 2025. They welcomed key developments across defense, strategic technologies, energy, and bilateral trade sectors. The statement highlighted how PM Modi and President Trump reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening the India-U.S. Comprehensive Global Strategic Partnership and advancing cooperation across all domains for mutual benefit.
