U.S. chief negotiator to go to India on September 16 for commerce talks

As a “continuation” of commerce talks between India and the U.S., India will host the U.S. chief negotiator Brendan Lynch for a one-day assembly with India’s chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, Mr. Agrawal mentioned on Monday (September 15, 2025).

This follows developments earlier this month, when U.S. President Donald Trump spoke concerning the “particular relationship” the U.S. shares with India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi “absolutely reciprocates” the sentiment.

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These pleasant overtures got here at a time when the U.S. has imposed a complete tariff of fifty% on imports from India, which derailed the negotiations on a Bilateral Trade Agreement between the 2 nations. The newest spherical of negotiations was to happen over the last week of August, however was indefinitely postponed following the levy of the two-part tariffs on India.

“The chief negotiator of the U.S. is visiting India tonight (September 15) and tomorrow we will likely be holding talks by the day,” Mr. Agrawal, who leads the negotiations with the U.S. on India’s behalf, mentioned at a press briefing.

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“This shouldn’t be an official ‘spherical’ of negotiations however it’s going to undoubtedly be a dialogue on the commerce talks and on attempting to see how we are able to attain an settlement between India and the U.S.”

Mr. Agrawal mentioned that India and the U.S. have been engaged in discussions at numerous ranges — starting from the workforce of negotiators to even on the Ministerial stage — and so Tuesday’s (September 16, 2025) assembly needs to be seen as a “continuation” of the talks.

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U.S. Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor, throughout his Senate listening to final week, mentioned that Mr. Trump had invited India’s Trade Minister to the U.S.

“We have additionally famous that, as a part of his Senate listening to, he talked about that the Indian commerce minister has been invited,” Mr. Agrawal mentioned. “Tomorrow we may have discussions on it.”