NEW DELHI: Government sources on Wednesday said that discussions between India and the United States on trade issues are “deeper and ongoing,” with both sides working towards finding a “win-win solution.,According to government sources quoted by ANI, engagement between India and the United States is continuing at multiple levels, with constructive discussions taking place.“The ambassador-designate was recently in India, where he met key stakeholders and held productive meetings,” the sources said, adding that “the discussion is on the table, and we are trying to see if we can arrive at a win-win solution between the two sides.”They also noted that India’s exports to the US have shown steady growth and are likely to continue on that trajectory. “Around 45 per cent of our exports to the US currently remain outside tariff coverage,” the sources said.“The ambassador-designate was recently in India, met with all key stakeholders, and held productive discussions,” they added.Earlier, a GTRI report suggested that the US is keen to fast-track a bilateral trade deal with India, motivated by its push to diversify supply chains away from China and ensure access to critical raw materials.According to GTRI director Ajay Srivastava, tightening Chinese controls on rare‑earth exports and an intensifying US–China trade conflict have “forced Washington to rethink its strategy with allies.” as it seeks reliable partners to build alternative supply chains.” This shift “could accelerate a trade deal with India, with the US likely offering 16–18% tariff access-higher than the 15% for the EU and Japan but below the 20% for Vietnam,” he added.A swift agreement would help unwind recently imposed US tariffs-up to 50%-that have squeezed Indian exporters. “The deal may move quickly because Washington wants it, giving India relief from the 50% tariffs now hurting its exports,” Srivastava noted. Yet he urged caution, that India should “hold firm on its red lines in agriculture, digital trade, e‑commerce, and intellectual property, and avoid any anti‑China clauses that could limit its strategic autonomy.”Meanwhile, a delegation of senior Indian officials is set to travel to the United States this week to expedite trade discussions.Last month, commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal led a delegation to New York for preliminary trade talks. Following those discussions, both India and the US agreed to expedite negotiations to reach a mutually beneficial trade agreement.The proposed trade agreement aims to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030, up from the current $191 billion. The US remained India’s largest trading partner for the fourth straight year in 2024–25, with bilateral trade at $131.84 billion ($86.5 billion exports). The US accounts for roughly 18% of India’s goods exports, 6.22% of imports, and 10.73% of total merchandise trade, figures that underscore why both sides say they want to move quickly toward a deal.
