‘Nothing Is Decided Till’ Says Jaishankar Amid India-US Trade Deal Talks
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday emphasized that any trade agreement between India and the US must be mutually beneficial, as negotiations continue on a bilateral deal.
Speaking to news agency ANI, Jaishankar said, “Any trade deal has to be mutually beneficial; it has to work for both countries. That would be our expectation from the trade deal.”
He noted that the discussions between the two countries remain complex. “These are complicated negotiations. Nothing is decided till everything is. Until that is done, any judgment on it would be premature,” he added.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is scheduled to visit the United States on May 17 for high-level trade talks. This marks his second visit in 2025, following a February engagement during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s state visit to Washington.
Goyal will be accompanied by Chief Negotiator Rajesh Agrawal and senior officials. The delegation is expected to address the recent imposition of 26% tariffs on Indian exports by the Trump administration and push for progress on a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
The trade negotiations aim to strengthen India-US economic relations. India has set an ambitious goal to increase bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. The two nations had previously agreed to conclude the first phase of a trade agreement by autumn this year.
Alongside bilateral issues, India and the US are also expected to discuss matters related to the World Trade Organization (WTO) during Goyal’s visit.
The talks come amid rising trade tensions, especially after the Trump administration increased duties on Indian steel and aluminium exports. However, both countries have continued to express interest in maintaining and growing economic cooperation.
The United States is India’s largest trading partner, and both governments have signaled their commitment to resolving disputes and enhancing trade through dialogue.
Minister Goyal’s US visit is seen as critical to advancing trade negotiations. Officials hope to address key sticking points and move closer to a comprehensive trade framework that benefits both nations.
