Piyush Goyal Says No Deadline For Tariff Deal With US

MUMBAI- Union Minister Piyush Goyal on December 11 said that the ongoing trade talks between Indian and US officials are progressing well, but at the same time, ruled out any deadline for signing a deal.

Commenting on US Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer’s two-day visit to Delhi, Goyal said: “We had very good substantive discussions. But I have said on record that a deal is only done when both sides stand to benefit. We should never negotiate with deadlines because you tend to make mistakes then.”

He clarified the nature of the current engagement: “Negotiations are progressing well. We’ve had substantive discussions over several rounds of negotiations. In the past, I think five rounds have happened. The current visit is not a negotiating round. The current visit is being undertaken by a new deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) who has joined about three months ago. It’s his first visit to India. We’re getting to know each other.”

India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal and US Deputy Trade Representative Switzer held discussions here on December 10 on the proposed bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.  (IANS)