INDIA-US TRADE PACT NEARLY READY, EXECUTION AWAITS COMPETITIVE EDGE FOR INDIAN EXPORTERS

September 25, 2026

NEW DELHI: Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said the India-US trade pact is “done and dusted” in terms of negotiations, but its execution will depend on securing a competitive advantage for Indian exporters in the American market.

India and the US had announced in February the finalisation of the framework for the first phase of their bilateral trade agreement. However, changes in the US tariff environment have led to further negotiations over the terms of implementation. Goyal said both sides need to establish comparable tariff competitiveness with India’s rivals before the agreement can be executed.

Goyal is scheduled to travel to the US for the G20 Trade Ministerial in Milwaukee from September 30 to October 1, where he is also expected to hold bilateral discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the progress of the agreement.

The minister also said India was advancing trade negotiations with Canada, Mexico and the Gulf Cooperation Council, while discussions with Chile and Peru were at different stages. He said India’s expanding network of free-trade agreements was aimed at securing preferential access to major global markets amid growing tariff and non-tariff trade barriers.