PTI New Delhi

India and the US would focus on increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and enhancing supply chain integration, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary said on Monday. 

In a written reply in the Lok Sabha, Chaudhary said India continues to engage with the US to achieve enhancement and broadening of bilateral trade ties in a mutually beneficial and fair manner.  "Both countries plan to negotiate a mutually beneficial, multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement. Both countries would focus on increasing market access, reducing tariff and non-tariff barriers, and enhancing supply chain integration," he said. 

US planning to exclude sector-specific tariffs

U.S. President Donald Trump's administration is likely to exclude a set of sector-specific tariffs while applying reciprocal levies on April 2, Bloomberg News and the Wall Street Journal reported, citing officials, Reuters reported. Sector-specific tariffs are now not likely to be announced on April 2, the Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing an administration official.

The official added that the White House was still planning to unveil reciprocal tariff measures on that day, although planning remains fluid. Bloomberg News had reported on Saturday that sector-specific tariffs would be excluded.

US govt officials to visit India for trade talks

Brendan Lynch, the assistant US trade representative for South and Central Asia, will pay a five-day visit to India beginning Tuesday, days before US President Donald Trump's tit-for-tat tariff kicks in.

The senior US trade official is expected to hold talks with Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal besides meeting a number of senior Indian officials. It is learnt that Indian officials are also hoping to discuss with Lynch the possibility of a waiver for India from the reciprocal tariff temporarily.It will come into effect on April 2.