India and the United States held “constructive and positive” discussions on the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement during talks in New Delhi from 1 June to 4 June, the Commerce and Industry Ministry said on Thursday, 4 June.
The US delegation was led by Brendan Lynch, Assistant United States Trade Representative and chief negotiator for the talks. India’s side was led by Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce.
The ministry said the engagements were marked by a “spirit of cooperation and pragmatism”, with both sides reaffirming their commitment to concluding a mutually beneficial agreement that strengthens bilateral trade and economic ties.
The talks covered trade in goods, non-tariff measures, customs and trade facilitation, economic security alignment and other areas of mutual interest, according to the ministry.
The latest round followed the India-US Joint Statement issued on 7 February 2026, when both countries agreed on a framework for an interim agreement on reciprocal and mutually beneficial trade.
The framework also reaffirmed their commitment to the broader India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement negotiations.
Ahead of the Delhi round, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal had said most elements of the first phase of the bilateral trade agreement had been finalised and that talks were focused on a few remaining details.
The negotiations also came as India sought clarity on US tariff treatment under the Section 301 process.
India was reportedly looking for relief or exemptions from proposed tariff measures while negotiating the interim trade pact.
On 3 June, amid the Delhi talks, the USTR proposed a 12.5% tariff on imports from India under a forced-labour-linked Section 301 action, with public comments invited till 6 July and a hearing scheduled for 7 July.
US goods trade with India stood at an estimated $149.4 billion in 2025, with US exports to India at $45.6 billion and imports to the US from India at $103.8 billion, according to USTR data cited in recent trade reporting.
Read also: After Oman deal, India eyes 2-3 more FTAs coming into force within six months
