In-person Sectoral engagements planned from end May
Fruitful discussions on wide ranging subjects covering tariff and non-tariff matters were held under the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement during a meeting in Washington, D.C. from 23-25 April 2025 https://www.commerce.gov.in/.
Representatives of India’s Department of Commerce and the Office of the US Trade Representative discussed the pathway for concluding the first tranche of the mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement by Fall of 2025, including through opportunities for early mutual wins, Commerce and Industry Ministry said on 29 April https://fieo.org/.
While productive Sectoral expert level engagements have taken place through the virtual format, in-person Sectoral engagements are planned from end May.
The productive discussions are part of bilateral efforts in line with Leaders’ Statement of February 2025 to enhance and expand India-U.S. economic ties and supply chain integration through the Bilateral Trade Agreement https://usispf.org/.
Meanwhile, media reports said India is likely to offer a “forward most-favoured-nation” clause to the United States as part of the proposed bilateral trade agreement, which the two countries target to sign by the fall of 2025.
This clause has been rarely granted by India in previous trade negotiations. Forward most-favoured-nation clause would mean that any more favourable tariff offered by India as part of any future deals would automatically apply to the US, the reports quoted official sources as saying. Fiinews.com
