India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, has described the recently negotiated India–U.S. trade agreement as a “new economic pillar” in the bilateral relationship, highlighting its potential to significantly deepen economic cooperation between the two nations. In an exclusive interview with NDTV, Kwatra characterised the framework as balanced, mutually beneficial and reflective of India’s core national interests while unlocking expanded market opportunities.
The ambassador said the trade agreement should be understood not simply as a commercial arrangement but as a strategic foundation for a broader and more dynamic economic partnership between New Delhi and Washington. He noted that the pact emerged from year-long negotiations, guided by directives from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and U.S. President Donald Trump to increase bilateral trade and foster a framework that is advantageous for both countries.
Kwatra emphasised that India’s labour-intensive products, industrial goods and agricultural exports stand to benefit from access to the U.S. market, which he described as one of the world’s largest and most diversified. He also stressed that while the deal opens up new avenues for export growth and investment, it protects sensitive domestic sectors such as agriculture and dairy, which have been a focal point in domestic discussions.
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Beyond trade volumes, the ambassador linked the agreement to a broader strategic logic, saying closer economic integration with the United States will generate sustainable opportunities in technology, capital flows and innovation. He highlighted the ongoing cooperation in areas like artificial intelligence, noting that the upcoming AI Impact Summit in India would see one of the largest U.S. delegations, affirming the expanding scope of India-U.S. engagement.
India’s Commerce and Industry Minister has already outlined that market openings under the framework will be “very calibrated” to protect sensitive sectors at home, blending economic ambition with cautious policy safeguards. Meanwhile, analysts project that India’s trade surplus with the United States could rise significantly as export volumes increase — a testament to the deepening economic ties between the two partners.
As both sides work toward formalising the full agreement, New Delhi’s framing of the deal as a cornerstone of its economic partnership with Washington underscores a strategic push to elevate bilateral engagement well beyond traditional trade arrangements, signalling an era of intensified economic and technological cooperation.
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