"Looking forward to productive discussions on trade agreement": Commerce Minister Goyal welcomes US Trade Representative Greer to India
New Delhi, June 23
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal on Tuesday welcomed the visit of US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer to the Department of Commerce and said that he looked forward to "productive discussions" on the bilateral trade agreement between India and the US.
He also welcomed the presence of the US Ambassdor to India, Sergio Gor and the adjoining US delegation for being a part of the ongoing discussions.
In a post on X, Goyal said, "Warm welcome to @USTradeRep Amb Jamieson Greer, @USAmbIndia Amb Sergio Gor and their delegation to @DoC_GoI. Looking forward to productive discussions on the bilateral trade agreement between India and US."
Meanwhile, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Tuesday highlighted his meeting with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer and said that the ongoing discussions will pave the path towards finalisation of the trade deal between the US and India.
In a post on X, he said, "Great to be with Minister @PiyushGoyal and @USTradeRep Ambassador Greer today in New Delhi. Ongoing discussions on finalizing the trade deal between the US and India."
In another post on X, Gor welcomed the visit of US Trade Representative (USTR) Ambassador Jamieson Greer to India and said that the finalisation of the bilateral trade agreement will " unlock new economic opportunities for both countries and significantly deepen the U.S.-India economic partnership."
He said, "Welcome to India, @USTradeRep Ambassador Greer! Great to have you here as we drive forward our ambitious trade agenda. We are moving decisively toward finalizing a strong bilateral trade agreement that will unlock new economic opportunities for both countries and significantly deepen the U.S.-India economic partnership."
United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Tuesday reached Vanijay Bhavan in the National Capital to meet with Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday to discuss an interim deal and the broader Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).
The US Trade Representative was accompanied by the US ambassador to India, Sergio Gor and a US trade delegation.Gor expressed optimism ahead of the US President Donald Trump's representative Greer's two-day India visit.
In a post on X, the US envoy signalled his anticipation for Greer's visit, stating that he is looking forward to welcoming him to the capital for his scheduled meeting with Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal, alongside other senior officials.
Greer's visit comes on the heels of a warm meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump at the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian, France.
The high-level discussions will focus on the United States-India Joint Statement and an Interim Agreement, which form part of broader bilateral trade negotiations. According to a USTR press release, these negotiations were originally launched by President Donald J. Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 13, 2025.
India remains engaged with the United States on the proposed tariff measures under the Section 301 proceedings and is simultaneously working towards finalising a bilateral trade framework agreement with Washington.
Earlier, last week, Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri stated that the interim bilateral trade pact reached its final stages. Speaking at a briefing after the G7 summit, the Foreign Secretary highlighted that both nations made significant progress and emphasized the importance of Ambassador Greer's impending visit to New Delhi to drive the trade deliberations forward.
"With the United States, we have made significant progress already on the conclusion of an interim free trade bilateral trade agreement," Misri said. "We are in the final stages of concluding that agreement."
Following his meetings in India, Ambassador Greer will travel to Tashkent, Uzbekistan, to meet with President Mirziyoyev, Head of the Presidential Administration Saida Mirziyoyeva, and Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev.The USTR says that Ambassador Greer will conduct each of these international meetings with his counterparts to discuss achieving fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade with the United States.
— ANI
Reader Comments
This is all fine, but I hope we don't give away too much on agricultural subsidies or dairy. The US has been pushing hard on这些东西 (these things) before. We need a deal that protects our farmers first. Let's see what Greer's team brings to the table.
Great to see diplomatic momentum! After the PM-Modi Trump meeting at G7, this visit seems well-timed. The interim deal being in final stages is promising. Just wish our bureaucracy moves as fast as the politicians talk! 😅
Honestly, I'm cautiously optimistic. The Section 301 tariffs on our steel and aluminium have hurt small exporters. If this deal can roll some of those back while opening US markets for our textiles and leather, it'll be a win-win. Let's hope the negotiations are transparent.
As someone who works in US-India trade, this is a positive step. The 'ambitious trade agenda' mentioned by Ambassador Gor is exactly what we need. Both economies complement each other well - India's services and US technology. Looking forward to concrete outcomes.
I'm glad to see India taking the lead on trade diplomacy. But we must remember - reciprocity doesn't mean equal tariffs when economies are so different. Our infant industries need protection. Hope Goyal ji keeps our national interests first. 🤞
We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.