New Delhi : The much-anticipated India-US trade agreement appears to be nearing the finish line, with senior Indian ministers indicating that most negotiations have been successfully concluded and an announcement could be made shortly.
Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit 2026, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the majority of issues have been addressed, adding that the remaining matters are largely on the US side.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal also expressed optimism, suggesting that the agreement could be officially announced “quite soon”. He pointed to progress in discussions covering trade, technology and defence. US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor similarly indicated that both sides are working towards finalising the deal.
According to reports, the proposed first phase will focus on trade in goods, while negotiations concerning services are expected to continue separately.
Washington has reportedly assured New Delhi of more favourable tariff treatment compared with several other trading partners. However, India has maintained its position on protecting sensitive domestic sectors. Goyal made it clear that agriculture, dairy and genetically modified products would remain outside any compromise.
The initial framework for the agreement was established in February, but its completion was delayed amid changing US tariff policies and ongoing trade investigations.
Beyond bilateral trade, Jaishankar also spoke about the changing global geopolitical landscape, highlighting US-China competition and continuing conflicts in West Asia and Ukraine.
With negotiations reportedly entering their final phase, attention is now focused on when New Delhi and Washington will formally announce the first stage of the trade agreement.
