Washington/New Delhi: US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is set to visit India this week for crucial discussions aimed at advancing the proposed interim trade agreement between the two countries, marking another significant step in strengthening economic ties between New Delhi and Washington.
According to a statement issued by the Office of the US Trade Representative, Greer will hold meetings with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and other senior Indian officials to review progress on the commitments outlined in the joint statement issued by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump earlier this year.
The visit is expected to focus on the interim arrangement that forms part of the broader India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), which both governments have been working to finalize through a series of negotiations over recent months.
Momentum for the agreement gained further traction following the meeting between Modi and Trump on the sidelines of the G-7 Summit in France last week. During the interaction, President Trump expressed confidence that both nations were nearing the conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade pact. He also praised Prime Minister Modi’s negotiating skills and emphasized the strong working relationship shared between the two leaders.
Greer’s visit follows a round of negotiator-level talks held in New Delhi from June 2 to June 4, during which officials from both sides discussed outstanding issues and explored pathways for accelerating the agreement’s completion.
Indian officials have indicated that the upcoming discussions could prove decisive. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal recently stated that ministerial-level engagement would likely focus on finalizing the framework required for the first phase of the trade arrangement.
Earlier this month, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal noted that India and the United States were making steady progress in resolving pending matters and moving toward the implementation of what he described as a “vibrant” initial phase of the Bilateral Trade Agreement. He expressed optimism that the first phase could be executed by the middle of next month.
The proposed trade framework is expected to enhance market access, improve business cooperation, and deepen economic engagement between the world’s largest and fifth-largest economies. Both nations have been seeking greater collaboration across sectors including manufacturing, technology, digital trade, agriculture, and investment.
Following his engagements in India, Greer will travel to Uzbekistan, where he is scheduled to meet President Shavkat Mirziyoyev, Head of the Presidential Administration Saida Mirziyoyeva, and Deputy Prime Minister Jamshid Khodjaev. Discussions there will focus on expanding economic cooperation and promoting fair, balanced, and reciprocal trade relations with the United States.
The India visit is being closely watched by policymakers and businesses alike, as it could pave the way for a landmark economic arrangement that further strengthens the strategic partnership between New Delhi and Washington.