Indian Delegation Heads To US To Finalize Trade Deal Legal Text
Delegation travels to negotiate and finalize legal framework of India-US trade agreement.
India is moving a key step closer to formalising a bilateral trade agreement with the United States after officials announced that a team of Indian negotiators will travel to Washington next week to finalise the legal text of an interim trade pact. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the visit — expected to begin around February 23 — will focus on converting the previously agreed trade framework into a binding legal document, with an official signing anticipated by March 2026.
Earlier this month, the two countries released a joint statement announcing that broad contours of an interim deal had been agreed upon, signalling strong progress after years of complex trade discussions. While that statement laid out economic objectives and cooperation principles, both sides now aim to codify those terms into a formal agreement that will shape tariff schedules, market access, and other bilateral trade rules. Virtual talks between Indian and U.S. officials are ongoing in advance of the Washington negotiations.
India’s chief negotiator, Darpan Jain, is slated to lead the delegation, with the team expected to work through detailed legal and technical issues during its stay in the U.S. capital. Commerce Secretary Agrawal reiterated that while the framework has been agreed, translating policy text into enforceable legal language remains a crucial phase of the process, requiring close coordination with U.S. counterparts.
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The proposed interim agreement represents a notable advance in India–U.S. economic relations, addressing long‑standing trade irritants such as reciprocal tariffs and market access limitations. Reports indicate that adjustments to reciprocal tariffs — potentially lowering them from the existing 25 percent to around 18 percent — are in progress and could be finalised as part of the agreement’s implementation.
Despite positive momentum, the trade deal has generated debate within India’s political landscape. Opposition figures have criticised aspects of the negotiations, particularly regarding agricultural protections and potential impacts on domestic industries, reflecting broader public scrutiny as details emerge.
If ratified as planned, the interim trade agreement will lay the groundwork for deeper economic cooperation between two of the world’s largest economies, potentially boosting exports, strengthening investment flows, and enhancing strategic ties. With legal text discussions scheduled imminently in Washington, both governments appear poised to solidify this key chapter in bilateral trade relations.
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