Washington DC: US President Donald Trump said Tuesday that India and the United States were nearing a trade agreement after more than a year of negotiations, while suggesting the proposed pact would differ significantly from previous deals struck by Washington.
Speaking to reporters in the Oval Office, Trump indicated that both sides were keen to conclude the agreement.
“They want to make a deal. We’re going to make a deal. Pretty close, yeah,” he said.
Trump added that the agreement would be “a much different kind of deal than we’ve done,” but did not provide details about its proposed terms or the outstanding issues.
His remarks come as New Delhi and Washington intensify efforts to resolve the remaining differences, with changes in US tariff policy prompting further discussions on the proposed bilateral trade agreement.
Rubio says only a few issues remain
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who is visiting India, also expressed optimism about the negotiations, indicating that the agreement was close to completion.
“I would say we’re about as close as you can be without having an executed agreement. I think there’s a small number of items left to wrap up,” Rubio said Tuesday.
He expressed hope that the remaining issues would be resolved soon, allowing the agreement to be announced and subsequently signed by the two countries’ leaders.
“And perhaps the leaders can sign it thereafter,” he added.
Rubio’s visit includes discussions on strengthening bilateral cooperation across trade, energy, technology, defence and people-to-people ties.
Tariff changes prompted fresh negotiations
India and the US announced in February that they had finalised a framework for the first phase of their bilateral trade agreement. However, subsequent changes in the US tariff landscape led to further discussions between the two sides.
Earlier this month, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal held meetings with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Milwaukee and Washington to discuss the finer details of the proposed pact.
Other senior officials have also indicated progress in the negotiations. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum in New Delhi that the major issues had been addressed and the two countries were close to finalising the agreement.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has similarly expressed optimism, saying both sides were “heading toward a landing point.”
The latest remarks from Trump and Rubio point to renewed momentum in the negotiations. However, with the remaining issues yet to be resolved and the final terms still undisclosed, the timeline for concluding the agreement remains uncertain.
Trump’s description of the proposed pact as a “much different kind of deal” has also left questions about its structure and specific provisions unanswered.
