New Delhi, April 19 -- About a dozen Indian officials are set to reach Washington on April 20 for a fresh round of negotiations with US counterparts on the first phase of the proposed bilateral trade agreement, according to an official familiar with the matter. The three-day discussions, scheduled from April 20 to April 22, come amid shifts in the US tariff regime that may require both sides to revisit the existing framework of the pact.
India's delegation will be led by chief negotiator Darpan Jain, an additional secretary in the commerce department. Officials from the customs department and the ministry of external affairs will also participate in the talks. "The meeting will happen from April 20-22 in Washington DC," the official said.
The negotiations follow significant policy changes in the United States. After the US Supreme Court struck down sweeping reciprocal tariffs introduced earlier by President Donald Trump under the 1977 International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the administration imposed a uniform 10 per cent tariff on all countries for 150 days starting February 24. These developments prompted a postponement of an earlier meeting between the two sides that had been scheduled for February.
Given the altered tariff environment, both countries are expected to reassess the terms of the agreement, the framework of which was released on February 7. "So the agreement will have to be recalibrated, redrafted," a government source said, noting that the changes would largely stem from the US side. "In our case, since the agreement has not been signed, we have got the option where we can right now change whatever needs to be changed," the source added.
The talks may also address two ongoing unilateral investigations initiated by the US Trade Representative under Section 301 of US trade law. India has rejected the allegations in these probes and has called for their termination, arguing that the notices lack adequate justification.
Under the earlier framework, the US had proposed reducing tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent from 50 per cent. It had also withdrawn a 25 per cent tariff linked to India's purchase of Russian oil and planned to cut the remaining 25 per cent to 18 per cent. In return, India had offered to reduce or eliminate tariffs on US industrial goods and a broad range of agricultural products, including dried distillers' grains, red sorghum, tree nuts, fruits, soybean oil, wine and spirits.
India had also indicated plans to import goods worth USD 500 billion from the US over five years, spanning energy, aircraft and parts, precious metals, technology products and coking coal.
However, with all US trading partners now facing a flat 10 per cent tariff, India's earlier advantage over competing countries has narrowed, prompting the need for adjustments.
Trade data reflects shifting dynamics as well. China emerged as India's largest trading partner in 2025-26, overtaking the US, which had held the position for four consecutive years until 2024-25. India's exports to the US rose marginally by 0.92 per cent to USD 87.3 billion in the last fiscal year, while imports increased by 15.95 per cent to USD 52.9 billion. The trade surplus with the US narrowed to USD 34.4 billion from USD 40.89 billion a year earlier.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.