A planned visit by a team of US trade negotiators to New Delhi between August 25 and 29 has been called off, sources familiar with the matter have confirmed. The cancellation casts a shadow on the fall deadline that the two countries had agreed upon for finalizing the first part of a new bilateral trade agreement.
The round of negotiations was highly anticipated, as it was scheduled to take place just before the imposition of a 25% additional secondary tariff on India on August 27. Sources indicated that both sides remain in contact, but a new schedule for the talks has not yet been finalized.
On Thursday, government officials had stated that India was “fully engaged” with the United States on negotiations, with discussions taking place across multiple channels, including formal negotiating teams, as well as ministerial, diplomatic, and industry-level interactions. Officials had described the US as a “very important trade partner” and reaffirmed the fall timeline, but noted that the status of the upcoming talks would be clear closer to the date.

