India-US trade deal negotiations near finishing line, says Jaishankar
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the bulk of issues have been sorted out as negotiations reach the final stretch.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday that negotiations for a trade deal with the United States are approaching the finishing line. Speaking at the Hindustan Times Leadership Summit, Jaishankar noted that many of the pending issues are not primarily on the Indian side, as more changes have occurred on the American end.
According to reports from Times of India, Hindustan Times, and Deccan Chronicle, the minister stated that India seeks a deal that is beneficial, balanced, and provides a comparative advantage over comparable economies. He described the process as painstaking, noting that officials have gone through the negotiations tariff line by tariff line.
Jaishankar said the process could not be completed quickly because serious issues involving people's jobs and lives are at stake. He added that while the Democratic victory in the US mid-term elections will change many things, there is bipartisan support for certain areas like defence, security, and technology cooperation.
The minister also commented on the border with China, stating it has become more alive and requires a greater sustained commitment of troops. He noted that India has bolstered military capabilities and infrastructure, such as tunnels, bridges, and airfields, along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) since the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes.
The trade negotiations follow the Trump administration's imposition of 50 per cent tariffs on Indian exports last year, though an understanding was reached earlier this year to slash tariffs to 18 per cent. Prime Minister Modi and President Donald Trump are scheduled to meet in the US next month.
