Key facts
- US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will visit India from June 23-24.
- Greer will meet with Indian Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
- The talks will focus on finalizing an interim trade agreement and a broader bilateral trade agreement.
- Discussions will also cover Section 301 probes concerning forced labor and excess industrial capacity.
- The US previously removed a 25% tariff on India for buying Russian oil as part of a framework agreement.
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to visit India from June 23-24 for trade discussions with Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. The primary focus of the meetings will be to finalize an interim trade agreement and discuss the broader bilateral trade agreement (BTA) between the two nations. This visit follows earlier engagements, including discussions held by a US delegation led by chief negotiator Brendan Lynch from June 2-4.
Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal indicated that the talks would center on giving final touches to the interim framework deal and the larger BTA. India has been preparing for potential US tariffs under Section 301 of the US Trade Act of 1974, which concerns forced labor and excess industrial capacity. India has made its submissions regarding these probes and is engaged in further proceedings, seeking relief and lower tariffs compared to competitors.
Previously, on February 7, India and the US issued a joint statement agreeing on a framework for an interim agreement. As part of this framework, the US removed a 25% penal tariff imposed on India for purchasing Russian oil and reduced reciprocal tariffs to 18%.