If the US is happy, they should sign on the dotted line: Goyal on India–US trade talks

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Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday responded to recent remarks from US trade officials about the ongoing India–US trade negotiations, saying that if the United States believes it has secured a favourable deal, it should “sign on the dotted line.”

The comment follows a statement by US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to a Senate Appropriations subcommittee, where he described India’s latest proposals as among the “best we’ve ever received as a country” in the context of talks on expanding market access—especially for agricultural products. Greer’s remarks came as a US delegation, led by Deputy USTR Ambassador Rick Switzer, is in New Delhi for discussions on the bilateral trade package.

Asked to address this optimism, Goyal said: “That only the USTR can answer. His happiness is very much welcome. And I do believe that if they are very happy, they should be signing on the dotted line.”

Goyal noted that India and the US have engaged in multiple detailed rounds of negotiations so far. “Negotiations are progressing well. We’ve had substantive discussions over several rounds of negotiations. In the past, I think five rounds have happened,” he said on the sidelines of an India-Italy joint press briefing.

He clarified that the current visit by the Deputy USTR, Rick Switzer, who joined recently, is not a formal negotiating round but an opportunity for officials to familiarise themselves and advance substantive exchanges. “It’s his first visit to India. We’re getting to know each other. He met me also. We had very good substantive discussions,” Goyal added.

A high-level delegation from the office of the US Trade Representative, led by Deputy US Trade Representative Ambassador Rick Switzer, has been in India from December 9-11, 2025.

On timelines, the minister reiterated that India will not negotiate under strict deadlines. “A deal is only done when both sides stand to benefit. We should never negotiate with deadlines or hard stops because it tends to make mistakes,” he said, signalling that while progress has been made, New Delhi will maintain its focus on balanced outcomes.

This is the second such visit by a US official after US President Donald Trump announced a 25 percent extra penalty on Indian goods for purchasing Russian oil. This was over and above an existing 25 percent tariff, making India one of the highest tariffed nation. Since then, India has diversified its energy imports.

In addition, US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Allison Hooker was on a 5-day visit to India till December 11 to advance the “strategic partnership” between the two nations, the US Embassy in India had said in a statement on Sunday.

Initially, New Delhi and Washington had agreed to conclude the first tranche of the trade agreement, by fall of this year. However, the two nations failed to strike a deal before the deadline.

Interestingly, the two visits by high-level US teams come soon after Russian President Vladimir Putin made a visit to India last week.