Trade Deal Between the US and India Is Likely Soon, Says Commerce Secretary Lutnick
U.S. Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has hinted that a trade deal between the United States and India may be finalised in the “not-too-distant future,” which is encouraging for the two countries’ bilateral ties. He commended India’s aggressive involvement in advancing trade talks in his remarks at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Annual Leadership Summit.
Lutnick Expresses Hope
“I think we found a place that really works for both countries, so you should expect a deal between the United States and India in the not-too-distant future,” Lutnick said during his remarks at the Summit. He said, “India is trying hard to be one of the earlier countries, which I appreciate,” acknowledging the country’s attempts to live up to U.S. expectations.
Lutnick underlined how quickly and seriously both nations are pursuing the trade negotiations. “Trade agreements typically take two to three years to complete.” He pointed out that the U.S. is attempting to shut them down in less than a month, which is not typical of international trade partnerships.
“We have a great relationship between our countries,” he added, reaffirming the two countries’ strong bond. I’m hopeful that both countries will gain from a trade agreement shortly.
“I am a great fan of India, and even the people in the government know that that’s true,” Lutnick reaffirmed his confidence in a post on X (previously Twitter).
India’s Reaction
In response to Lutnick’s comments, Aditya Birla Group Chairperson Kumar Mangalam Birla said he was pleased with the news. Birla stated, “I believe that Lutnick had a very optimistic outlook on the India-US relationship and the two nations’ future together.”
He went on to say, “He discussed how Prime Minister Modi and President Trump are close friends, which greatly facilitates their working together. Additionally, he stated that the trade agreement ought to be revealed shortly. He sounded incredibly optimistic about the Indo-US partnership, in my opinion.
The Next Round of Discussions Is Set
The next round of bilateral trade negotiations is set for June 5–6 in India, according to official sources that ANI cited. To resume talks on the planned Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA), a U.S. team will travel to New Delhi. According to the sources, these negotiations are going well.
Prior to this, from April 23 to 25, 2025, members from the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and India’s Department of Commerce met in Washington, D.C. Tariff and non-tariff obstacles were among the many topics discussed at the discussions.
“Mission 500” as well as strategic objectives
Both countries have established an ambitious objective known as “Mission 500” to boost bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030 as part of the continuing BTA talks.
The ramifications of a U.S. court decision that invalidated reciprocal trade tariffs implemented under previous President Donald Trump are also presently being examined by Indian officials.
Impact of Trade
When the trade agreement is finalised, it may provide a lot of new business and investment opportunities. For four years in a row, the United States has been India’s top trading partner. Bilateral trade totalled $131.84 billion in fiscal year 2024–2025, with India benefiting from a $41.18 billion trade surplus.
While resolving long-standing difficulties like tariff barriers and visa concerns, the proposed deal seeks to improve cooperation in important areas like digital trade, intellectual property, manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, and services.
