India is awaiting an “opportune time” to move forward on a proposed trade agreement with the US, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal told NDTV Profit, signalling that bilateral negotiations remain active despite ongoing consultations linked to American trade investigations.
Agrawal said the next visit by the US trade team is expected in June as both sides continue engagement on key trade issues.
“We have joined the consultations on both Section 301 investigations,” Agrawal said, adding that the US will communicate the next course of action after the consultation process concludes.
He noted that India is “awaiting the opportune time to take forward the US trade deal,” indicating that discussions are progressing but timing will be crucial for advancing negotiations.
The comments come amid continued trade engagement between New Delhi and Washington on tariff-related concerns and market access issues under the US Section 301 framework.
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According to media reports, in March, the US initiated a probe under Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974, alleging that India had created significant excess capacity in sectors including petrochemicals, steel and solar modules. Washington also flagged textiles, healthcare products, construction materials and automobiles as industries where India runs a sizeable global trade surplus. New Delhi has rejected the allegations.
Section 301 allows the US government to investigate and respond to foreign trade practices that it considers unfair or discriminatory to American commerce.
India's exports to the US rose 0.92% year-on-year to $87.3 billion in FY26, while imports from the US climbed 16% to $52.9 billion. As a result, India's trade surplus with the US narrowed to $34.4 billion in the last fiscal year from $40.9 billion in FY25.
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