Trade talks: India, US remain engaged on proposed deal; commerce secretary says 'can't put deadline'

India and the United States are close to finalising a bilateral trade agreement, but it will be announced only when both sides feel prepared to do so, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Thursday, underlining that negotiations remain active and ongoing, PTI reported.“Its very near, but we can not put a deadline because that will happen… when both sides are ready and they feel that this is the right time to announce,” Agrawal told reporters, adding that negotiating teams from both countries are virtually discussing all pending issues. He said the talks between India and the US have never broken down and that engagement has continued at multiple levels. In the last week of December, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a virtual meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, following the December 10–11 visit to New Delhi by a US delegation led by Deputy USTR Rick Switzer.Earlier this week, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also said both sides are actively working to firm up the trade agreement. “The United States and India are bound not just by shared interests, but by a relationship anchored at the highest levels. Real friends can disagree, but always resolve their differences in the end,” Gor said.The negotiations have taken place against the backdrop of strains in bilateral ties following the Trump administration’s decision to impose steep 50% tariffs. Relations have also seen friction over other issues, including US immigration policy and President Donald Trump’s claim of having ended the India–Pakistan conflict in May last year.Agrawal said bilateral trade between India and the US continues to register positive growth despite these challenges. When asked whether it was possible that the talks could fail to yield an agreement, he said both sides remain optimistic.“We get into all (trade pact) negotiations with a very positive and optimistic mindset… we are engaged with the US. Both sides are engaged. So, I think both sides feel that this can be done,” the commerce secretary said.