Indian Delegation To Visit US Next Week To Finalise Legal Framework Of Trade Deal

Last Updated:February 16, 2026, 17:55 IST

Virtual engagements between the two sides have been ongoing following the announcement of the interim trade deal earlier this month.

An Indian delegation headed by Commerce Ministry Joint Secretary Darpan Jain would visit the United States next week to finalise the legal framework of the proposed bilateral trade agreement, Union Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said on Monday.

Agrawal said that virtual engagements between the two sides have been ongoing following the announcement of the interim trade deal earlier this month. The next round of discussions in Washington will focus on completing the legal aspects of the agreement.

“There have been virtual engagements going on (with the US) and next week, the chief negotiator will be leading a delegation to the US to finalise the legal framework towards the legal agreement that work will carry on next week in Washington," the official said as quoted by news agency ANI.

Meanwhile, as per the data shared by the government, India’s overall exports (merchandise and services) in January 2026 rose to $80.45 billion, compared to $71.09 billion in January 2025. Imports during the same period increased to $90.83 billion from $76.48 billion a year earlier.

As a result, India’s overall trade deficit widened to $10.38 billion in January 2026, up from $5.39 billion in January 2025, according to the Commerce Ministry.

Earlier this month, US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the breakthrough trade deal following a telephonic conversation that effectively ended a period of severe trade tensions between Washington and New Delhi.

The agreement slashed US tariffs on Indian goods from a punitive 50% down to 18% as Washington dropped an additional 25% punitive levy that had been imposed in August last year in response to India’s continued purchases of Russian oil, bringing the total effective tariff down from the previous 50%.

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