US Trade Representative Greer visits India to discuss trade agreement

(Reuters, New Delhi) U.S. Trade Representative Greer visited India on Tuesday (June 23) for two days of talks aimed at finalizing a framework for a U.S.-India trade agreement. New Delhi hopes the final trade agreement will offer more favorable terms than other Asian economies, enhancing India's competitive advantage.

Indian Commerce Minister Goyal said, "We are working with the United States to ensure that we gain a relative advantage so that our exporters can benefit."

He stated that he would be "very happy" if an agreement could be reached before July 24th, the deadline for Washington to impose a 10% provisional tariff on all trading partners.

Greer's office stated that the talks aimed to achieve fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade. The U.S. Embassy in India said in a statement that the United States is committed to reaching a fair and reciprocal trade agreement with India that opens up markets for U.S. exporters and creates more jobs, development opportunities, and greater prosperity for the people of both countries.

In February of this year, US President Trump and India reached a provisional trade agreement. The US reduced punitive tariffs on some Indian goods from 25% (or higher) to 18%. In exchange, India agreed to lower trade barriers on US products and pledged to increase its purchases from the US over the next five years.

Compared to competitors like Bangladesh and Vietnam, India faces lower U.S. tariffs. However, trade agreement negotiations between the U.S. and India have been disrupted since the U.S. Supreme Court ruled on February 20 that Trump's global tariff measures were illegal. In March, the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative launched an investigation into unfair trade practices by several countries, including India, under Section 301 of the Trade Act, further complicating the U.S.-India negotiations.

Analysts say Washington is using these investigations to pressure India to open its markets for agricultural and other products, and to buy more energy and military products from the United States.

Source: [Lianhe Zaobao] (https://www.zaobao.com/news/world/story20260623-9251389)