India and the United States are set to advance negotiations on their proposed bilateral trade agreement during Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal’s visit to the US from September 29 to October 5, 2026. Goyal will hold discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer as both countries work towards finalising an interim trade agreement. Key Highlights Piyush Goyal will visit the US from September 29 to October 5. He will attend the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee. India and the US will discuss the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement. Talks will focus on advancing and finalising an interim trade deal. Goyal is scheduled to meet US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. The minister will also meet American business leaders in Milwaukee and Chicago. India is seeking a competitive tariff framework as negotiations continue. Piyush Goyal’s US Visit Piyush Goyal is travelling to the United States from September 29 to October 5. He will participate in the G20 Trade Ministers’ Meeting in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, on September 30 and October 1, at the invitation of US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. Alongside the G20 meeting, Goyal will hold bilateral discussions with his US counterpart on the ongoing India-US trade deal. The Commerce Ministry has said the talks are aimed at advancing a balanced and mutually beneficial Bilateral Trade Agreement and finalising an interim deal based on the joint statement issued in February 2026. India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement Talks The proposed India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) has been under negotiation as both countries seek to expand market access and strengthen trade ties. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on September 29 that there was “more or less an understanding” on the trade agreement, while noting that the negotiations had taken longer because of the complexity of the issues involved. Piyush Goyal had also said earlier in September that the pact was close to completion but that India was seeking a competitive advantage compared with its competitors in the US market before implementation. Tariffs Remain a Key Issue Tariffs and the structure of the proposed agreement remain important issues in the negotiations. India is seeking a tariff arrangement that provides competitive access for its exporters in the US market. Recent reports also indicate that the two sides are discussing a possible forward Most-Favoured-Nation (MFN) mechanism, which could help protect negotiated tariff concessions from future changes in the US tariff regime. The February 2026 framework had already outlined areas for further negotiations, including tariffs, non-tariff barriers, customs and trade facilitation, services, investment, intellectual property, labour and environmental issues. Goyal to Meet US Business Leaders During his US visit, Goyal is also expected to meet CEOs and representatives of American companies from sectors including manufacturing, consumer goods, agriculture, retail and technology. The meetings are intended to promote India as a manufacturing and investment destination while discussing opportunities for greater trade and investment between the two countries. The minister will also participate in business and startup discussions in Chicago and engage with members of the Indian diaspora. India-US Trade Relations The proposed trade pact comes as India continues to expand its network of trade agreements and strengthen its position in global supply chains. A final India-US agreement could cover a broad range of issues involving goods, services, investment and market access. For businesses, the outcome of the negotiations could influence tariffs, export opportunities and supply-chain decisions. The latest discussions during Piyush Goyal’s US visit are therefore focused on moving the interim agreement forward while both countries continue negotiations on the broader India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement.
