New Delhi: India and the US have almost concluded the first part of their new trade deal, the Indian commerce minister said, as delegations began talks in New Delhi on Tuesday.
A US delegation led by Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch arrived in India on Monday.
The three-day visit takes place four months after the two countries formally initiated talks, and the first phase of the deal was now almost ready, India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told reporters.
“US Ambassador Sergio Gor said that 99 percent of the things have been finalized. Discussions are going on about small issues — commas and full stops,” he said, adding that he was confident that they would “conclude the first tranche of the BTA as soon as possible, sign it and start further discussions on how to have a more comprehensive BTA.”
India and the US released a framework for an interim trade agreement in early February.
