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US Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs Bethany Poulos Morrison said that Washington is “very, very close” to concluding the historic trade agreement with India.
Meanwhile, a delegation led by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer left from Vanijya Bhawan in New Delhi on Wednesday after meeting with the Indian negotiators amid ongoing discussions on an interim deal and the broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), which was originally launched by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi.
Earlier, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman held discussions with the delegation led by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in New Delhi on Tuesday, as both sides exchanged views on strengthening bilateral trade and economic cooperation with a focus on new growth opportunities and deeper commercial engagement.
The US Embassy in India said the US-India trade partnership is a “win-win for both”, noting that stronger ties create American manufacturing jobs while supporting India’s growth as the world’s largest democracy. “From energy security to tech talent exchanges, we’re building the future together,” it posted on X.
Speaking at an event, US Deputy Assistant Secretary Morrison said, “Looking at trade, in February 2026, we announced the intention to finally conclude the historic trade deal. We are very, very close.”
She added that the proposed agreement would open India’s market of 1.4 billion people to American goods on “reciprocal and mutually beneficial” terms.
“This is going to open India’s market of 1.4 billion to America’s goods on terms that are reciprocal and mutually beneficial. The administration is driving towards the goal of Mission 500, 500 billion in trade by 2030, with a real sense of urgency,” she said, referring to the broader trade target between the two countries.
Highlighting recent trade performance, Morrison noted that 2025 was a “historic year” for India-US trade.
“We raised bilateral trade for goods to 149 billion. That’s more than a 20 million increase from 2024. US exports to India alone rose by 9.8 per cent,” she said.
On investment flows, she said Indian companies are showing strong interest in the United States. “We had SelectUSA, where we saw 20 billion dollars of new US investment into the United States from India. 1.1 billion in immediate investment,” she added.
Morrison emphasised that both sides are moving with urgency towards expanding economic ties, underscoring the growing momentum in India-US trade and investment relations.
Earlier, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal met in New Delhi on Tuesday to advance negotiations on the Interim Agreement, which was originally launched by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi.
