India-U.S. trade talks: Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal likely to visit Washington soon

With the India-U.S. trade talks moving in the right direction, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is expected to visit Washington soon, sources told PTI.

The visit comes in the backdrop of recently concluded daylong discussions here between U.S. Chief Negotiator Brendan Lynch and his Indian counterpart Rajesh Agrawal on the proposed bilateral trade agreement.

"The commerce minister's visit is likely soon... may be in the next few days... for the trade talks," sources said.

On Tuesday (September 16, 2025), the Commerce Ministry stated that daylong discussions with the visiting U.S. team on a bilateral trade deal were positive, and both sides agreed to push for an early and mutually beneficial conclusion of the agreement.

"It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial trade agreement," the Ministry said in a statement after a seven-hour meeting with U.S. officials.

From The Hindu: Analysing impact of U.S. tariff on Indian industries

The talks were important as the U.S. has imposed a steep 50% tariff on Indian goods.

The visit of the high-ranking U.S. trade officials was first after the imposition of a 25% tariff and an additional 25% penalty on Indian goods entering the American market for buying Russian crude oil.

In February, leaders of the two countries directed officials to negotiate a proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

It was planned to conclude the first tranche of the pact by the fall (October-November) of 2025. So far, five rounds of negotiations have been held. The pact is aimed at more than doubling the bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 from the current $191 billion.

Mr. Goyal visited Washington earlier in May for the trade talks. He held deliberations with U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick in Washington.

The U.S. remained India's largest trading partner for the fourth consecutive year in 2024-25, with bilateral trade valued at $131.84 billion ($86.5 billion exports). The U.S. accounts for about 18% of India's total goods exports, 6.22% in imports, and 10.73% in the country's total merchandise trade.

Mr. Goyal had on Thursday (September 18) said that trade talks between India and the U.S. are progressing and are moving in the right direction.