India, US conclude trade talks

New Delhi, Dec 11 (PTI) India and the US on Thursday concluded two-day talks with both sides exchanging views on trade-related issues, including the ongoing negotiations for a mutually beneficial bilateral trade agreement, commerce ministry sources said.

Both sides agreed to continue the current purposeful and positive engagements, they said.

A delegation led by Deputy US Trade Representative Rick Switzer was here for the talks.

The visit was Ambassador Switzer's first to India after assuming his current office.

During the visit, he met Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal, Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal, and other senior Indian officials.

"The visit served as an opportunity for both sides to have productive exchanges on a wide gamut of items related to India-US trade and economic ties, including the ongoing negotiations for a mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement," they added.

The visit is crucial as India and the US are working to finalise the first tranche of the pact.

In February, leaders of the two countries directed officials to negotiate an agreement. It was planned to conclude the first tranche of the pact by the fall of 2025. So far, six rounds of negotiations have been held. The agreement aims to more than double bilateral trade to USD 500 billion by 2030, from the current USD 191 billion.

The US remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at USD 131.84 billion, including USD 86.5 billion in exports.