Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: With back-channel efforts underway, US trade negotiator Brenden Lynch will hold bilateral trade talks in New Delhi on Tuesday, the media reported.
Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, who will arrive in India on Monday night, will continue talks on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with his Indian counterpart, a government official was quoted as saying.
The US-India trade talks will he held on Tuesday, the official said.
Rajesh Agrawal, Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, will be India’s chief negotiator.
Since assuming office for his second term, President Donald Trump has reiterated his stance on tariff reciprocity, emphasising that his administration will match tariffs imposed by other countries, including India, to “ensure fair trade.”
He has since imposed reciprocal tariffs on dozens of countries with which the US has a trade deficit.
Over the past few months, India and the US have been negotiating for an interim trade deal. India had reservations on the US demand for opening up the agricultural and dairy sectors, which are critical for India as they provide livelihood opportunities to millions of people.
The two countries initiated talks for a just, balanced, and mutually beneficial BTA in March 2025, aiming to complete the first stage of the deal by October-November 2025.
Initially, President Trump announced a 25 percent tariffs on Indian goods amid hopes of an interim India-US trade deal that would have otherwise helped avoid elevated tariffs.
A few days later, he imposed another 25 percent tariff, taking the total to 50 percent, citing India’s continued imports of Russian oil.
The 50 percent tariffs came into effect on August 27.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded warmly to Trump’s affirmation of the India-US ties. In a post on X, he noted: “Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties. India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership.”
President Trump, while making an announcement in the White House, recalled that the India-US ties are a “very special relationship” and affirmed that he and PM Modi would always be friends, asserting that there is “nothing to worry about.”