India engaged with US on Bilateral Trade Agreement, government consults relevant stakeholders: Jitin Prasada tells Rajya Sabha
New Delhi, July 24
The government remains engaged with the United States in the framework of negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement and is studying all the developments related to tariffs, the Rajya Sabha was informed on Friday.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said the government remains in continuous consultation with relevant stakeholders, including farmers, agricultural exporters, industry bodies.
"The Government is studying all the developments and remains engaged with the U.S. Government in the framework of negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA)," the minister said.
He said the engagement includes recent meetings of negotiating teams from both countries in Washington, DC from April 20-22, New Delhi from June 1-4, and the visit of the US Trade Representative to New Delhi from June 22-24.
"The Government remains in continuous consultation with relevant stakeholders, including farmers, agricultural exporters, industry bodies, ministries/departments and export promotion councils on issues related to import tariffs imposed by the United States (US)," he said.
According to the reply, the Centre has also considered inputs received from state governments "with a view to safeguarding India's trade interests."
The government noted that India and the United States launched negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement following the leaders' meeting in February 2025 under the "Mission 500" initiative to expand bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030.
It further said an interim trade deal framework was announced in February 2026, while adding that the additional 25 per cent tariff earlier imposed by the US on certain Indian exports over India's imports of Russian oil had since been removed.
The reply also noted that reciprocal tariffs were no longer in force following a US Supreme Court judgment, although a 10 per cent tariff imposed by the US on certain products under Section 122 of the US Trade Act, 1974, continues to apply.
The minister said the government is supporting exporters through measures including the Export Promotion Mission, the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters and RBI's trade relief measures as negotiations with the US continue. (ANI)
New Delhi [India], July 24 (ANI): The government remains engaged with the United States in the framework of negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and is studying all the developments related to tariffs, Rajya Sabha was informed on Friday.
In a written reply, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada said the government remains in continuous consultation with relevant stakeholders, including farmers, agricultural exporters, and industry bodies.
"The Government is studying all the developments and remains engaged with the U.S. Government in the framework of negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA)," the minister said.
He said the engagement includes recent meetings of negotiating teams from both countries in Washington, DC, from April 20-22, New Delhi from June 1-4, and the visit of the US Trade Representative to New Delhi from June 22-24.
"The Government remains in continuous consultation with relevant stakeholders, including farmers, agricultural exporters, industry bodies, ministries/departments and export promotion councils on issues related to import tariffs imposed by the United States (US)," he said.
According to the reply, the Centre has also considered inputs received from state governments "with a view to safeguarding India's trade interests."
The government noted that India and the United States launched negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement following the leaders' meeting in February 2025 under the "Mission 500" initiative to expand bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030.
It further said an interim trade deal framework was announced in February 2026, while adding that the additional 25 per cent tariff earlier imposed by the US on certain Indian exports over India's imports of Russian oil had since been removed.
The reply also noted that reciprocal tariffs were no longer in force following a US Supreme Court judgment, although a 10 per cent tariff imposed by the US on certain products under Section 122 of the US Trade Act, 1974, continues to apply.
The minister said the government is supporting exporters through measures including the Export Promotion Mission, the Credit Guarantee Scheme for Exporters and RBI's trade relief measures as negotiations with the US continue.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is encouraging. The removal of the 25% tariff on Indian exports is a big win for our manufacturers. But that 10% tariff under Section 122 still stings. Hope the next round of talks addresses that. Keen to see how Mission 500 unfolds.
Honestly, I'm skeptical. The US keeps changing its trade policies every few years. One day they impose tariffs, next day they remove them. We need a stable, long-term agreement that protects our small businesses, not just big corporates. Otherwise, it's all just talk.
Great news that the government is studying all tariff developments. I'm particularly interested in how this will impact our agricultural exports. Our farmers produce high-quality goods, but they need fair access to US markets. Let's hope the BTA includes provisions for quality certifications and reduced non-tariff barriers.
As an American living in India, I see these negotiations from both sides. The 10% tariff still feels like a leftover from previous tensions. Both countries need to drop the protectionist instincts and focus on mutual gains. India's IT sector and US manufacturing could really complement each other.
Let's not forget that while we talk about trade, the US still has issues with our data localization laws and digital services. A BTA that ignores these will only be half-baked. Also, why is the interim framework from 2026 still being discussed? We need more transparency on what's in it.
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.