India–US Trade Talks Gain Momentum as Goyal Meets Greer at WTO Summit

New Delhi | 27 March 2026 India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a “very productive” meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The discussion focused on key agenda points of the global trade meet, along with the next steps in the ongoing India–US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) negotiations. Both sides also explored ways to further strengthen economic cooperation and expand bilateral trade ties. The meeting comes at a crucial time when global trade dynamics are undergoing changes due to recent policy shifts in the United States. Earlier, India and the US had agreed on a framework for the first phase of a bilateral trade deal, which included a proposal to reduce tariffs on Indian goods. However, recent developments, including a ruling by the US Supreme Court affecting tariff structures, have led to delays in finalising the agreement. Officials indicated that the trade deal will now be aligned with the revised tariff framework in the US. India has maintained that any agreement must reflect the comparative advantage it gains under the new tariff regime. As a result, previously scheduled negotiations between chief negotiators were postponed, and the signing of the agreement initially expected in March has been deferred. Meanwhile, India continues to actively pursue broader trade partnerships. The government is currently engaged in negotiations for multiple Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries and regional blocs, including Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, the Eurasian Economic Union, and Israel. These efforts underline India’s strategy to diversify its trade network and strengthen its position in the global economy. India–US Trade Talks Gain Momentum as Goyal Meets Greer at WTO Summit India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal held a “very productive” meeting with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization Ministerial Conference in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The discussion focused on key agenda points of the global trade meet, along with the next steps in the ongoing India–US bilateral trade agreement (BTA) negotiations. Both sides also explored ways to further strengthen economic cooperation and expand bilateral trade ties. The meeting comes at a crucial time when global trade dynamics are undergoing changes due to recent policy shifts in the United States. Earlier, India and the US had agreed on a framework for the first phase of a bilateral trade deal, which included a proposal to reduce tariffs on Indian goods. However, recent developments, including a ruling by the US Supreme Court affecting tariff structures, have led to delays in finalising the agreement. Officials indicated that the trade deal will now be aligned with the revised tariff framework in the US. India has maintained that any agreement must reflect the comparative advantage it gains under the new tariff regime. As a result, previously scheduled negotiations between chief negotiators were postponed, and the signing of the agreement initially expected in March has been deferred. Meanwhile, India continues to actively pursue broader trade partnerships. The government is currently engaged in negotiations for multiple Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) with countries and regional blocs, including Australia, Sri Lanka, Peru, Chile, the Eurasian Economic Union, and Israel. These efforts underline India’s strategy to diversify its trade network and strengthen its position in the global economy.