India, US Resume Trade Talks In Washington After Mini Deal Deadline Moves To August 1

India and the United States have resumed trade negotiations in Washington, with an Indian delegation landing in the US capital for a fresh round of discussions. The talks, expected to span at least four days, began on Monday and mark a renewed attempt to break the deadlock that has persisted despite months of backchannel discussions.

India’s Chief Negotiator Rajesh Agrawal is expected to join the delegation on Wednesday. The fresh round comes shortly after the two sides failed to seal a long-anticipated mini deal around the earlier deadline of July 9.

That deadline had coincided with the expiration of a temporary pause on US tariffs on certain Indian goods, that has now been extended until August 1 by the Trump administration. However, the extension is being seen as a narrow window to negotiate for a broader deal than earlier anticipated.

Key sticking points remain unresolved, especially over agriculture, dairy access, and digital trade rules. Indian negotiators are holding their ground on red-line issues, particularly in politically sensitive sectors like farming.

This round of talks is likely to be pivotal. While both sides continue to frame the talks as constructive, rising U.S. tariff threats on other sectors, including pharmaceuticals and BRICS-related exports, have dampened spirits, since the assurance of no additional threats was something that Indian negotiators wanted as part of the deal.