Commerce Ministry to Meet Industry, Exporters on September 1 Over India-US Trade
Key export sectors and industry bodies to review bilateral trade trends, sector wise performance and latest developments ahead of upcoming US talks.
NEW DELHI, Aug. 31: The Commerce Ministry will hold consultations with industry associations and export promotion councils on September 1 to assess the latest trends in India-US trade and discuss developments affecting bilateral commerce, an official said on Sunday.
The meeting will be chaired by Commerce Ministry Additional Secretary Darpan Jain, who also serves as India’s chief negotiator for the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA).
The discussions come ahead of Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s planned visit to the United States later in September. Goyal is expected to attend the G20 Trade Ministerial in Milwaukee and hold bilateral discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.
The two-day G20 Trade Ministerial is scheduled to begin on September 30, with the United States holding the G20 presidency in 2026.
According to the official, the September 1 consultation will examine recent trade movements, sector-specific performance and emerging issues in commercial ties between the two countries.
Representatives from a broad range of export oriented industries are expected to participate. These include pharmaceuticals, engineering, textiles, agriculture, chemicals, marine products, leather, automobiles, auto components, handicrafts and plastics.
Major industry bodies, including the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI), Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) and Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), are also likely to join the discussions.
India and the US are currently negotiating a bilateral trade agreement aimed at expanding market access and strengthening economic ties. In February, the two countries announced the conclusion of negotiations on the framework for the first phase of the proposed pact.
However, changes in the US tariff structure have resulted in further discussions between New Delhi and Washington as both sides work towards resolving outstanding trade-related issues.
Goyal recently said the first tranche of the proposed agreement would take effect once the US ensures that Indian exporters receive a comparative advantage over competitors in international markets.
The September consultation is therefore expected to provide the government with updated feedback from exporters and industry stakeholders as it prepares for the next round of high-level engagement with the United States.
