DOHA (Oct 7) — India and the United States remain in active discussions to finalise a bilateral trade agreement, and there is still a strong possibility of meeting the November deadline, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.
Speaking to reporters in Doha, Goyal confirmed that both sides are “in continuous dialogue” and exploring all options to bridge the remaining gaps in negotiations.
“Every possibility exists for concluding the talks soon,” Goyal said, adding that the next round of discussions could take place in person. However, he cautioned that the timing would depend on the situation in Washington.
“Aap sab jaante hain ki USA mein aaj-kal government shutdown mode mein hai, toh uske madde nazar dekhna padega ki kaise baat-cheet ho sakti hai, kahan ho sakti hai, aur kab ho sakti hai,” Goyal remarked. (As you all know, the US government is currently in shutdown mode, so we’ll have to see how, where, and when the discussions can take place.)
India and the US have been working to resolve several pending trade issues, including market access, tariff barriers, and digital trade regulations, as part of efforts to deepen their economic partnership.
Officials from both sides are aiming to wrap up negotiations ahead of the Trade Policy Forum (TPF) review later this year.
The proposed pact is expected to open new avenues for cooperation in goods, services, and investment, building on the momentum created by recent collaborations in technology, defence manufacturing, and clean energy.