India-US trade deal a ‘very exciting opportunity’, says US Trade Representative

US Trade Representative hails India trade pact as ‘very exciting opportunity’

US Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer on Tuesday termed the India–US trade agreement a “very exciting opportunity,” noting that New Delhi has agreed to lower tariffs on a range of American goods under the reciprocal arrangement.

Speaking to CNBC on Tuesday, the US Trade Representative said the broad contours and specifics of the deal have been agreed, but the text is still being finalised. “We’ll finish papering it, but we know the specifics, we know the details,” Greer said, adding that India is maintaining some protection for agricultural goods.

.@USTradeRep Ambassador Greer on @POTUS' deal with India: "It's a very exciting opportunity. On the one hand, we'll continue to maintain some level of tariff against India... but they've also agreed to reduce their tariffs for us on a variety of agricultural products,… pic.twitter.com/8M3wZnGJ6P

— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) February 3, 2026

“It’s a very exciting opportunity. On the one hand, we’ll continue to maintain some level of tariff against India… but they’ve also agreed to reduce their tariffs for us on a variety of agricultural products, manufactured goods, chemicals, medical devices, etc,” Greer said, outlining the agreement announced by US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The remarks confirm that while Washington has reduced tariffs on Indian exports from 50% to 18%, India has committed to easing market access for US exporters across multiple sectors, including manufacturing, chemicals and medical equipment.

Welcoming the agreement, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said the deal would create new opportunities for Indian businesses while ensuring that sensitive domestic sectors remain protected.

Goyal acknowledged India’s willingness to lower duties on certain US agricultural products but stressed that the core interests of Indian farmers and the dairy sector had been safeguarded during negotiations.

“PM Modi has always championed both the agriculture and dairy sectors, safeguarding their interests and working tirelessly to ensure a bright future and ample opportunities for the people in this sector. I am pleased that the entire country understands and appreciates this, and it resonates deeply with them. The sensitive factors of India’s economy, particularly agriculture and dairy, have been protected,” he said.

The agreement is expected to deepen economic engagement between the two countries while balancing trade liberalisation with domestic priorities.