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US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer says Washington and New Delhi have identified the remaining sticking points but cautions that a final agreement is not imminent
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said India and the United States are in the “short strokes” of negotiations on a bilateral trade deal, but cautioned that an agreement is not imminent as the two sides continue to work through unresolved issues.
Greer made the remarks after a meeting with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers’ meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on Thursday. He described his conversation with Goyal as “very constructive” and said officials from both countries were continuing to work towards finalising the agreement.
“We are continually trying to finish the trade deal with India. We are in the short strokes. I think we are towards the end of it,” Greer said.
At the same time, Greer said there was no immediate announcement expected.
“I don’t think there is something imminent. But we truly have identified the universe of items that are sticking points, and we are working diligently toward them,” he said.
The comments came a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke by phone and discussed bilateral ties, including trade. Greer said the two leaders could speak again soon to assess progress in the negotiations.
More from Business“The President and the Prime Minister may have another call very soon on this just to assess progress and where we are,” Greer said.
India-US trade talks
India and the US have been negotiating an interim trade agreement as part of broader talks on a bilateral trade agreement. The negotiations were launched in February 2025, with the two sides seeking to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers and expand market access.
Goyal is in the US from September 29 to October 5 for discussions on the trade agreement and is also attending the G20 Trade Ministers’ meeting hosted by Greer in Milwaukee.
The latest meeting between Goyal and Greer comes as the two countries seek to resolve remaining differences. Greer did not spell out the specific sticking points in his remarks, but said negotiators had identified the areas that still needed to be addressed.
The two sides have been discussing issues including tariffs, market access and the broader terms of an interim agreement. The talks have also been affected by changes in US tariff policy and Washington’s concerns over India’s imports of Russian oil.
The G20 meeting in Milwaukee has also focused on wider trade issues, including forced labour in global supply chains, excess industrial capacity, the Most-Favoured-Nation principle and the use of food trade as an economic tool.
