India, US to hold trade talks from Dec 10:Discussions will aim to advance the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) and resolve tariff issues

India and the United States are set to resume trade negotiations in New Delhi from December 10, with the talks aimed at advancing the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), a priority for both countries. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, India’s chief negotiator, recently expressed optimism that the first phase of the agreement could be concluded before the end of the year. According to ANI, he told the FICCI Annual General Meeting that negotiations have progressed substantially despite ongoing global trade uncertainties. India and the US had initially aimed to complete the first tranche of the BTA by fall 2025. However, the timeline shifted following changes in US trade policy—most notably President Donald Trump’s decision to impose a 25% tariff on Indian goods starting August 1, followed by another 25% hike. The tariffs were linked to India’s continued purchase of Russian oil and were part of broader reciprocal duties targeting countries with which the US has trade deficits. Multiple rounds of discussions have already taken place. The BTA, formally proposed in February, seeks to expand bilateral trade from the current $191 billion to $500 billion by 2030. The initiative was first highlighted during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Washington earlier this year. India continues to broaden its trade partnerships, having signed 14 Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) and six Preferential Trade Agreements (PTAs). It is also actively negotiating new FTAs, including with the EU. In a separate meeting in New Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Russian President Vladimir Putin reviewed progress on a potential Free Trade Agreement between India and the Eurasian Economic Union and urged teams to accelerate work on an investment-protection pact. Speaking at the HT Leadership Summit 2025, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar underscored India’s strategic independence, reaffirming that the country maintains strong ties with all major global powers and will continue to uphold its “freedom of choice” and “strategic autonomy.” ​