Page 4 - Trade Talks

Govt aims to expand trade in energy products with US: Piyush Goyal

India assures US of a bigger role in its energy security, with plans to boost trade in energy and nuclear cooperation, while avoiding mention of Russian oil imports amid tariff tensions

India and US continue trade negotiations at multiple levels: official

India, US talks are happening at different levels covering both trade and non-trade issues, an official said. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is in the US for trade talks. He is accompanied by senior officials of the ministry, including special secretary and India's chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal. "Talks are happening at different levels," the official said, adding the minister led team is expected to return from the US later this week. Goyal has held discussions with his US counterpart. This visit comes in the backdrop of recently concluded day-long discussions in New Delhi between US Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and Agrawal on the proposed bilateral trade agreement. On September 16, the commerce ministry stated that the day-long discussions with the visiting US team on a bilateral trade deal were positive, and both sides agreed to push for an early and mutually beneficial conclusion of the agreement. The visit of the high-ranking US trade officials came for the f

Datanomics: Corn symbolises thorny issues in US-India trade talks

India's corn imports from the US were just $ three million in FY18, accounting for 0.3 per cent of total agricultural imports from that country

Apeda figures low in fiscal support even as India looks to sign FTAs

Comparatively modest expenses on salaries and establishment could be a reason

US calls Piyush Goyal's visit for trade talks an important step forward

According to people aware of the matter, Goyal will meet United States Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer this week on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly

Piyush Goyal likely to visit Washington soon for key India-US trade talks

With the India-US trade talks moving in the right direction, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is expected to visit Washington soon, sources said. The visit comes in the backdrop of recently concluded daylong discussions here between US Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and his Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal on the proposed bilateral trade agreement. "The commerce minister's visit is likely soon... may be in the next few days... for the trade talks," they said. On September 16, the commerce ministry stated that daylong discussions with the visiting US team on a bilateral trade deal were positive, and both sides agreed to push for an early and mutually beneficial conclusion of the agreement. "It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement," the ministry said in a statement after a seven-hour meeting with US officials. The talks were important as the US has imposed a steep 50 per cent tariff on Indian goods. The vi

'Hoped for more progress' in talks with India, says EU trade chief

The EU's key interests include cars, wines and spirits, and agriculture -- areas considered sensitive by India, and are still under negotiation

India, US back on deal table: Chief negotiator-level meeting on Tuesday

The development comes even as White House senior trade advisor Peter Navarro reiterates his criticism of India's purchase of Russian oil

US signals softer stand in BTA: Access to high-end cheese, not milk market

US signals softer dairy stance, eyeing premium cheese exports to India as trade talks restart; India wary of opening sensitive farm sector

135,000 jobs lost in Surat due to Trump's trade tariffs: Shashi Tharoor

Congress leader Shashi Tharoor said that US tariffs have already led to around 135,000 layoffs in Surat's gems and jewellery sector, with potential job losses looming in seafood and manufacturing

India a key partner shaping region's future: Trump's envoy pick Sergio Gor

India is a strategic partner whose trajectory will shape the region and beyond, US ambassador-designate to Delhi Sergio Gor said on Thursday, underlining that he is committed to advancing America's interest in this important partnership. Last month, President Donald Trump promoted Gor, Director of Presidential Personnel, as the next US Ambassador to India and Special Envoy for South and Central Asian Affairs. India is a strategic partner whose trajectory will shape the region and beyond. Under President Donald Trump's strong leadership, I'm committed to advancing America's interest in this important partnership, Gor said at his confirmation hearing in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. When confirmed, 38-year-old Gor will be the youngest American ambassador to India. India's geographic position, economic growth and military capabilities make it a cornerstone for regional stability and a critical part of promoting prosperity and advancing the security interests that our nations

EU unlikely to impose 100% tariffs on India on Trump's request; here's why

The European Union treats tariffs and sanctions differently and considers imposing such tariffs as a risky move, and supports targeting specific entities with sanctions

India, Qatar may finalise terms of reference for trade deal in October

India and Qatar are likely to finalise terms of reference for a bilateral trade agreement next month, a senior official said on Monday. Once the terms of reference of the proposed trade pact are finalised, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal may visit Qatar in October, the official said. The official also informed that there is good progress on the proposed trade pact with the EU. The EU team is currently here for the 13th round of India-EU FTA talks. "It is possible that next month Qatar's terms of reference (for trade deal) may be finalised," the official said. Minister Goyal last month had said that Qatar wants to negotiate a free trade agreement (FTA) with India. In February, India and Qatar agreed to double bilateral trade to USD 28 billion over the next five years.

India, EU begin 13th round of trade talks, hope to fast-track deal

India and the European Union (EU) on Monday started the next round of negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), an official said. After the 13th round of talks, European Commissioner for Trade Maros Sefcovic will visit India on September 12 to take stock of the progress of negotiations with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, the official said. As there is a deadline to conclude the talks by the end of this year, this round of talks is important. The 12th round of talks concluded in Brussels. In June 2022, India and the 27-nation EU bloc resumed negotiations for a comprehensive FTA, an investment protection agreement and a pact on geographical indications after a gap of over eight years. It stalled in 2013 due to differences on the level of opening up of the markets. On February 28, PM Narendra Modi and the European Commission president agreed to seal a much-awaited free trade deal by the end of this year. Besides demanding significant duty cuts in automo

India sees no drop in overall cargo shipments despite US tariffs: Sonowal

Amid concerns over the impact of a 50 per cent US tariff on Indian products, Union Ports Shipping and Waterways Minister Sarbananda Sonowal on Friday claimed that there has been no reduction in overall cargo shipments from India. Almost 90 per cent of India's foreign trade in terms of volume and 70 per cent of India's foreign trade by value is transported through sea routes. "We have not seen a reduction in overall cargo shipments from India," Sonowal told PTI when asked to comment on the impact of a 50 per cent steep tariff imposed by Washington on Indian goods entering the US. India and the US have been negotiating a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) since March. So far, five rounds of talks have been completed. After a 50 per cent duty was imposed on August 27, the US team has deferred its visit to India for the next round of talks, which was scheduled from August 25. No new dates have been finalised for the sixth round of negotiations. Amid tensions between India and the US, .

'If India doesn't budge, neither will Trump,' says US economic advisor

US economic advisor Kevin Hassett said India-US trade talks remain "complicated", linking them to US pressure on Russia for peace and India's reluctance to open its markets to American goods

FM Sitharaman meets Qatar trade minister to strengthen bilateral trade

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Thursday met Minister of State for Foreign Trade Affairs of Qatar Ahmed bin Mohammed Al-Sayed and discussed bilateral trade and investment, among others. During the discussion, Sitharaman highlighted the transformative steps taken by India to attract foreign investments in the last decade. "Both the Ministers reiterated the commitment to enhance bilateral trade and investment relations under the 'strategic partnership' between India and Qatar," the finance ministry said in a post on X. The Qatari delegation conveyed that they see good opportunities for investments in India, given India's economic growth and technological development. Separately, Minister of State for Finance Pankaj Chaudhary participated in a bilateral meeting with Ahmad bin Mohammed Al-Sayed, Minister of State for Foreign Trade of the State of Qatar, and his accompanying delegation. "This historic bilateral engagement witnessed in-depth discussions aimed at opening new avenu

Finland's President Stubb, PM Modi discuss India-EU trade and tech ties

Finland's President Alexander Stubb on Tuesday reiterated his country's support for an early conclusion of a mutually beneficial India-EU Free Trade Agreement in a phone call to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. A PMO statement said the two leaders also reviewed progress in the India-Finland bilateral relationship and reaffirmed their commitment to enhance partnership in emerging fields, including quantum technologies, 6G, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and sustainability. Stubb affirmed support for the success of the AI Impact Summit to be hosted by India in 2026, it added. The statement said Stubb shared his assessment with Modi on the recent meetings held between the leaders of Europe, the United States and Ukraine in Washington on the resolution of the conflict in Ukraine. Modi reiterated India's consistent support for the peaceful resolution of the conflict and early restoration of peace and stability, it added.

Russia-led EAEU team to visit India in September for free trade talks

A high-level EAEU delegation will visit New Delhi next month to begin negotiations on a proposed trade pact, expected to expand India's export markets

Are export sectors in the firing line? Markets brace for tariff fallout

From textiles and gems to auto parts and seafood, Indian exporters brace for shrinking US orders, job losses, and weaker earnings as Trump's tariff surge takes effect on August 27