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India-US Trade Talks Reach Plateau, Further Progress Looks Difficult
India and the United States are trying to make a trade agreement.
They have been talking since February 2025.
India’s finance minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, said the talks have reached a point where it is hard to make more progress.
She said it would be very difficult for either country to give more.
She also said there may still be some room for both sides to work with.
A U.S. trade official said last week that a deal was not close.
The countries want to strengthen their economic ties and settle disagreements about access to each other’s markets.
Sitharaman said India sells more to the United States than it buys, and the United States wants to reduce that gap.
India and the United States have reached a plateau in talks on a trade agreement, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said.
Sitharaman said further concessions from either side would be “very, very difficult,” though both sides might still find room to negotiate.
U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said last week that an agreement was not imminent.
The negotiations have been underway since February 2025 to deepen economic ties and address long-standing market access issues.
Sitharaman said the trade balance favors India, while the United States runs a deficit and wants to reduce the imbalance.
- Who
- India and the United States; Nirmala Sitharaman, Jamieson Greer, and Piyush Goyal were involved in or commented on the talks.
- What
- Trade agreement negotiations have reached a plateau, with further movement described as very difficult.
- Where
- Sitharaman spoke at an event in New Delhi; Greer and Goyal met in the United States.
- When
- The negotiations began in February 2025; Sitharaman made her comments on Monday.
- Why
- The countries are seeking to deepen economic ties and resolve long-standing market access issues; the United States also wants to reduce its trade deficit with India.
India’s stated position
United States’ stated position
Trade balance
India’s stated position
Sitharaman said the trade balance is in India’s favor.
United States’ stated position
Sitharaman said the United States wants to reduce its trade deficit with India.
Negotiating room
India’s stated position
Sitharaman said further movement would be very difficult, while noting that both sides might find room to operate.
United States’ stated position
Greer said an agreement was not imminent; the article does not report a further U.S. position on possible concessions.
Key facts
- Negotiations began
- February 2025
- Indian finance minister
- Nirmala Sitharaman
- U.S. trade representative
- Jamieson Greer
- Indian trade minister
- Piyush Goyal
- Talks status
- Sitharaman described the negotiations as having reached a plateau.
- Trade balance
- Sitharaman said the balance favors India and the United States runs a deficit.
- Stated aims
- Deepen economic ties and address long-standing market access issues.
Quotes
Nirmala Sitharaman
India’s finance minister
“It's been a hard and very vigorously negotiated agreement. The negotiations are still ongoing.”
telegraphindia.com
“Maybe if there are rooms to operate from, both sides would do it.”
telegraphindia.com
Sources
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