US-India Trade Pact Negotiations Advance

A US delegation, led by chief negotiator Brendan Lynch, is visiting India from June 1-4, 2026, to finalize an interim trade pact and advance negotiations for a broader bilateral trade agreement (BTA). This follows a previous meeting in Washington in April, where an Indian team led by Darpan Jain visited the US. The discussions cover market access, non-tariff measures, customs, investment promotion, and economic security. The framework for the first phase of the BTA was agreed upon in February 2026, which included the US agreeing to reduce tariffs on India from 50% to 18%. However, a US Supreme Court ruling against former President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariffs and a subsequent imposition of a 10% tariff on all countries by the US President have necessitated a re-evaluation of the agreement's framework. India has also expressed intentions to purchase USD 500 billion worth of US products over five years. Additionally, the United States — United States Trade Representative launched Section 301 investigations against India, which India has strongly rejected. Despite these complexities, US Ambassador Sergio Gor expressed optimism about concluding the agreement soon. The two countries also firmed up a framework for cooperation on critical minerals, amid concerns over China's export controls.