India-US trade deal best among competitors: piyush Goyal

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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Saturday said India has secured the best trade deal with the United States compared to competing nations, highlighting the strong and strategic partnership between the two countries.

Speaking at the Raisina Dialogue 2026 in New Delhi, Goyal said the relationship between India and the US has grown significantly in recent years and continues to expand across several sectors including trade, technology, defence and investments.

He pointed out that the United States remains the world’s largest economy, valued at around USD 30 trillion, and plays a major role in global trade and economic activity. Because of this, maintaining strong ties with Washington is important for India’s economic interests and international engagement.

Goyal said the ties between the two nations remain positive and constructive. He added that US President Donald Trump has often spoken positively about India and Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the past year, reflecting the close relationship between the two countries.

The minister said that occasional misunderstandings between nations are natural and should not be seen as weakening the broader partnership. He compared such differences to those that can sometimes arise within a family.

Explaining the importance of trade agreements, Goyal said these deals aim to provide preferential market access for a country’s goods and services compared to competitors. According to him, India has managed to secure the best deal among nations competing for access to the US market.

He also noted that India has obtained better trade terms than several competitors, including neighbouring countries such as Pakistan and Bangladesh as well as other Asian economies.

Goyal added that the India-US partnership is not limited to trade. Cooperation between the two countries also includes areas such as advanced technologies, critical minerals, defence collaboration and significant investments from American companies into India.

His remarks come as both countries have finalised the framework for the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement, though talks to finalise the legal text have been postponed.