Most India-US trade deal issues sorted, says Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the trade negotiations are approaching the finishing line with remaining concerns mostly on the American side.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that India and the United States have sorted out the bulk of the issues, including tariff lines, regarding a proposed trade deal. According to the Indian Express, Jaishankar noted that the negotiations are approaching the finishing line and that the last stretch of concerns remains at the American end rather than in New Delhi.
The minister stated that many of the remaining issues are not so much on India's side because more changes have occurred on the American side. He said that India wants a trade deal that is beneficial, balanced, and provides a comparative advantage over groups of comparable economies.
Jaishankar explained that the process has been painstaking because serious issues involving people's jobs and lives are at stake. He added that the two nations have gone through the process tariff line by tariff line to reach this stage.
Regarding the India-China border, the minister said it has become more alive and requires a greater, sustained commitment of Indian troops. He noted that recent upgrades to border infrastructure, such as tunnels, bridges, and airfields, have improved India's capability to deploy troops.
The minister also commented on global volatility, stating that the US-China competition is a big part of it, though many other factors are at play. He noted a bipartisan consensus in the US regarding the defence, security, and technology relationship with India.
