US Trade Envoy to Visit India for Bilateral Trade Talks on Tuesday

A high-level US trade delegation, led by Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, is set to arrive in India on Tuesday for crucial discussions on bilateral trade issues, just days before the April 2 deadline set by US President Donald Trump for imposing reciprocal tariffs.

According to a US embassy spokesperson, Lynch’s team, which oversees trade relations with South and Central Asia, will be in India from March 25 to March 29 for meetings with Indian officials. The visit underscores Washington’s commitment to fostering a “productive and balanced” trade relationship with New Delhi.

The visit comes amid growing global concerns over a potential escalation of trade disputes following Trump’s warning about enforcing reciprocal tariffs. Despite these concerns, India and the US have been engaged in negotiations to establish a framework addressing tariffs, market access, and other trade-related matters.

Sources familiar with the discussions indicated that reducing tariffs may not significantly benefit the US due to international trade laws that could favor China. Instead, both nations are expected to focus on finalizing a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) during Lynch’s visit.

Key issues between India and the US have reportedly been settled, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump previously agreeing to an initial phase of a mutually beneficial trade deal by fall 2025. The goal of this agreement is to expand bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.

“Both sides have agreed to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers to boost trade, but they also want this arrangement to remain exclusive. A legal framework is needed to prevent extending Most Favored Nation (MFN) treatment to all WTO members,” a source said.

The discussions during Lynch’s visit will be crucial in shaping the future of India-US trade ties, particularly in light of the impending tariff deadline and the broader goal of strengthening economic cooperation between the two nations.

Sources By Agencies

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