US Team To Visit India On Aug 25 For Next Round Of Trade Talks
With just days to go before the Aug. 1 deadline for possible US tariff action, discussions remain active behind the scenes, sources said.
The United States will send a high-level delegation to New Delhi on August 25 for the sixth round of negotiations on the proposed India-US bilateral trade agreement, sources said on Tuesday.
The visit would come weeks after the fifth round concluded in Washington on July 19. With just days to go before the Aug. 1 deadline for possible US tariff action, discussions remain active behind the scenes, the persons privy to the development said.
The upcoming round of talks is expected to cover unresolved issues related to market access, tariffs, and digital trade. While both sides have signaled intent to deepen economic ties, negotiations have faced hurdles over regulatory standards and duties on key goods.
India-US Trade Deal: Three Scenarios Ahead
1. India Gets Tariff Letter
The US could formally notify India of new tariffs, similar to letters sent recently to Bangladesh and Cambodia. This would dramatically shift the dynamic of negotiations, possibly prompting India to fast-track a deal or prepare countermeasures.
2. Deal Before Deadline
A last-minute breakthrough remains possible. If both countries manage to close the first phase of the agreement before Aug. 1, the deal is likely to feature limited tariff relief and selective market access. It would mark a political and economic win amid efforts to reconfigure global supply chains.
3. Deadline Extension
Washington may extend the deadline for imposing tariffs, giving negotiators more time. Such a move would keep the door open for dialogue but also prolong uncertainty, similar to what the US has done in its ongoing trade engagement with China.
