'Great optimism; it will happen soon', says US State Dept Spox on India-US Interim trade agreement
London, July 10
American government officials have expressed 'great optimism' as discussions continue on the India-US trade agreement, hoping that it will "conclude soon", State Department Spokesperson Margaret Macleod said on Thursday.
She made the remarks in an exclusive conversation with ANI.
When asked about the interim trade deal, the American envoy said, "We hear from US government officials that there is great optimism it will happen soon, but for the specific details, it would be best to ask the US Trade Representative directly."
Earlier, 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.
The remarks come after US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, accompanied by the American delegation, held discussions with Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal earlier in June to advance negotiations on the Interim Agreement, which was originally launched by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi.
Macleod also spoke about 'Operation Hardball' and said that the indictment from the US Department of Justice was just unsealed, and it does not contain many details regarding extradition or specific cooperation.
"However, the arrests which took place not only in the US but also in Europe and other nations were clearly the result of collaboration with our allies," she said.
Her remarks come in the wake of "Operation Hard Ball", a coordinated crackdown targeting India-based organised crime groups allegedly involved in violent crimes, extortion and international narcotics trafficking.
— ANI
Reader Comments
Interesting to see 'great optimism' from the US side. But we should be cautious and ensure our farmers and small businesses aren't harmed by any agreement. Need to negotiate hard for India's interests.
Both sides keep saying 'close' to a deal – been hearing this for months now. Hope it's not just diplomatic talk. Our MSMEs really need the boost from better market access in the US. 🤞
Trade deal is good but Operation Hardball sounds troubling. Glad to see cooperation on tackling organized crime – those India-based gangs have been a menace to NRIs and locals alike. Need more such joint operations.
Piyush Goyal is doing a great job handling these negotiations. But US always pushes hard on IPR and data localization – hope our government doesn't give away too much. 'Fair and equitable' should be the mantra.
This interim deal better not be just a photo op. We need concrete benefits – lower tariffs on Indian textiles, easier visas for our IT professionals, and technology transfers. Otherwise it's just fancy talk.
Honestly, both countries have been talking about this for years. Until I see actual signatures on paper, I'll take 'optim
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