Washington DC [US]: Trade negotiations between India and the United States are progressing positively, according to US Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent, who noted that India is comparatively easier to negotiate with due to its transparent tariff system.
Speaking at a press briefing, Bessent emphasized that non-tariff barriers are often more complex and difficult to address than direct tariffs, making India’s openness advantageous in ongoing discussions.
“We are very close on India and it is easier to negotiate with India than many other countries because they have very high tariffs…So it is much easier to confront the direct tariffs as we go through these unfair trade deals that have been put in over decades that the non-tariff trade barriers can be much more insidious and also harder to detect. So, a country like India, which has posted and ready tariffs, makes it much easier to negotiate with them. So I think the Indian negotiations are moving well,” he said.
Bessent also mentioned the recent visit of US Vice President JD Vance to India and its impact on advancing bilateral discussions.
“US Vice President JD Vance was in India last week. He and PM Modi made some very good progress, so I could see some announcements on India,” he said.
On India’s side, the Commerce and Industry Ministry confirmed that the bilateral talks have been “fruitful” and are making “positive progress.” The latest round of negotiations took place in Washington, DC from April 23 to 25, following earlier meetings held in New Delhi in March.
A statement from the Ministry noted that representatives from India’s Department of Commerce and the US Trade Representative’s Office discussed tariff and non-tariff issues, aiming to conclude the first phase of a multi-sector Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by Fall 2025.
The talks included discussion of early mutual trade wins and planned sectoral expert-level engagements, some of which are scheduled to continue in-person starting late May.
These efforts are aligned with the Leaders’ Statement of February 2025, in which both sides committed to strengthening economic ties and supply chain integration through the proposed trade deal.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had visited the United States earlier in February this year and held bilateral discussions with US President Donald Trump, setting the stage for deeper cooperation.