India, U.S. Push For Last-Minute Trade Deal

India-West News Desk

WASHINGTON, DC — Indian trade officials have extended their stay in Washington in a last-ditch effort to bridge gaps in ongoing negotiations with the United States, as a July 9 deadline looms for higher U.S. tariffs, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the discussions.

The face-to-face talks, initially scheduled to conclude on June 27, were extended by at least a day, fueling speculation that both sides could be nearing an interim trade agreement, according to sources who spoke to Bloomberg on condition of anonymity due to the sensitive nature of the talks.

President Donald Trump added to the anticipation last week, telling reporters that a “very big” trade deal with India was likely in the near future.

However, several key sticking points remain, Bloomberg said. The U.S. has reportedly pushed for greater access to India’s agricultural market, specifically requesting approval for genetically modified crops—something New Delhi has resisted over concerns about potential harm to small-scale farmers and environmental risks.

India, for its part, is pressing for a more balanced agreement that includes concessions on sectoral market access and a rollback of retaliatory tariffs on Indian exports.

The negotiations come at a critical moment, with both governments under pressure to avoid a tariff escalation that could hurt trade ties and impact key sectors in both economies.