The U.S. and India are close to finalising a significant bilateral trade agreement, with both sides working against a fast-approaching July 9 deadline, confirmed the White House on Tuesday.
Notably, the announcement comes amid a flurry of diplomatic engagement, including External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s visit to the US for the QUAD Foreign Ministers' Meeting.
Speaking at a press briefing, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said, “The President said that last week, and it remains true. I just spoke to our Secretary of Commerce... they are finalising these agreements, and you'll hear from the President and his trade team very soon when it comes to India.”
Leavitt was responding to a question from ANI about the status of the deal.
The bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between the two nations is being positioned as a key milestone in the strategic partnership. The 90-day pause on tariff escalations, set to expire on July 9, has created a sense of urgency for both sides to resolve pending issues, particularly the U.S.' demands for lower tariffs on American agricultural and dairy products, as well as expanded market access for genetically modified crops.
India has pushed back on these requests, citing concerns around food security, environmental sustainability, and protecting its domestic farm sector.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, in a press conference on June 10, said the two leaders had agreed on a framework that would be “fair, equitable, and balanced,” aiming to benefit people and businesses on both sides.
Moreover, the White House reaffirmed India’s importance as a key strategic partner in the Indo-Pacific region.
“India remains a very strategic ally in the Asia Pacific, and the President has a very good relationship with Prime Minister Modi,” Leavitt said, responding to a separate ANI question on China’s regional influence.
Her remarks came just days after US President Donald Trump accepted Prime Minister Modi’s invitation to attend the upcoming QUAD summit, scheduled to be held in New Delhi later this year.
The invitation was extended during a phone call on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Canada in June, according to Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri.
It should be noted that the QUAD, comprising the U.S., India, Japan, and Australia, has emerged as a key platform to ensure a free, open, and resilient Indo-Pacific, especially amid growing concerns over Chinese assertiveness in the region.
Earlier this June, US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick had also struck an optimistic tone during the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum, stating, “We are in a very, very good place... expect a deal in the not-too-distant future.”
President Trump has been, meanwhile, consistent in calling for “reciprocal” trade terms, often criticizing trade barriers faced by American companies in India.
At a recent event, he remarked, “We’re looking to get a full trade barrier dropping... I’m not sure that’s going to happen, but we are moving in that direction.”
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