metro india news  I new delhi

India and the United States will launch a three-day round of technical-level discussions from December 10 as part of the first phase of their proposed bilateral trade agreement, according to official sources. The talks, to be held in New Delhi until December 12, are not designated as a formal round but are considered crucial as both sides push to complete the first tranche of the pact.

The US delegation will be led by Deputy USTR Rick Switzer. This is their second visit following Washington’s imposition of a 25 per cent tariff and an additional 25 per cent penalty on Indian goods linked to India’s purchase of Russian crude. US officials last held discussions in India on September 16, shortly before Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s meetings with counterparts in Washington on September 22 and earlier in May.

For the broader agreement, Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch serves as the US chief negotiator, while India is represented by Joint Secretary Darpan Jain from the Department of Commerce. Sources noted that the fresh round of discussions gains significance as Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal recently said India hopes to reach a framework trade deal with the US within this year. Such a pact is expected to help address tariff-related challenges currently affecting Indian exporters, especially in sectors hit directly by the higher US duties.

India and the US are currently engaged in two parallel tracks: a framework agreement aimed at resolving tariff issues, and a more comprehensive bilateral trade agreement. In February, leaders from both nations instructed officials to accelerate negotiations, with the first tranche initially targeted for completion by fall 2025. Six negotiation rounds have taken place so far, and the long-term goal is to raise bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, compared to USD 191 billion at present.

The US has remained India’s largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with trade valued at USD 131.84 billion. However, exporters warn that India’s merchandise exports to the US fell for a second straight month in October, declining 8.58 per cent to USD 6.3 billion, largely due to the steep tariffs imposed by Washington.