Delhi Meetings Aim to Seal Interim India-US Trade Deal

A U.S. negotiating team led by its chief trade official will land in the capital on June 1 to hammer out details of an interim trade arrangement with India before moving on to broader bilateral talks. The four-day visit will tackle issues ranging from tariff reductions and regulatory alignment to investment facilitation and supply-chain resilience. The agenda reflects progress made since the February joint statement that laid out the structure for an interim accord, followed by Indian officials’ trip to Washington in April. During his recent New Delhi stopover, Secretary Rubio highlighted that any final deal must deliver sustainable gains for both economies while respecting national interests. He also clarified that recent U.S. tariffs are part of a systemic overhaul of global trade rather than a targeted move against India. Commerce Ministry sources say the upcoming sessions will seek common ground on contentious areas such as dairy, medical devices, and data localization, setting the stage for a more ambitious agreement later this year.