NEW DELHI: India and the United States made positive progress during three-day trade talks in Washington this week, with both sides agreeing to remain engaged to sustain the momentum going forward, the government said on Friday.
Details of the Trade Talks
About a dozen officers from India were in Washington from April 20 to April 22 to hold discussions with US authorities on finalizing the details of the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA).
The talks deliberated on issues including market access, non-tariff measures, technical barriers to trade, customs and trade facilitation, investment promotion, economic security alignment, and digital trade, the commerce ministry said in a statement.
Positive Spirit and Forward-Looking Discussions
“The meetings were conducted in a constructive and positive spirit, with meaningful and forward-looking discussions enabling progress on key matters. Both sides agreed to remain engaged to maintain this momentum as they move forward,” the ministry said.
Revisiting the Agreement Framework
As the tariff landscape has changed in the US, both sides are re-looking at the framework of the agreement, the text of which was released on February 7. US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer has described India as a “tough nut to crack.”
