New Delhi, July 19 (H.S): India and the US teams have completed the fifth round of negotiations for the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) in Washington, which took place over four days from July 14-17. The Indian delegation, led by chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, has concluded their discussions and is returning home. The outcome of these talks is significant as both countries aim to finalize an interim trade deal ahead of August 1, coinciding with the end of the suspension period for Trump-era tariffs imposed on several nations, including a 26% tariff on India. The negotiations reflect ongoing efforts to strengthen bilateral trade relations between India and the United States.

Union Minister Piyush Goyal emphasized that negotiations are conducted privately and discussions are ongoing. The context of these negotiations includes recent tariffs announced by US President Donald Trump, which were initially set to take effect on July 9 but have been postponed to August 1. Both teams are focusing on bridging differences to achieve a mutually beneficial agreement.

Hindusthan Samachar / Jun Sarkar