On 16 September 2025, India and the U.S. held high-level talks in New Delhi to push forward a long-awaited bilateral trade agreement. The meeting, led by Brendan Lynch (U.S.) and Rajesh Agrawal (India), comes after strained ties over the 50% U.S. tariffs on Indian goods linked to Russian crude imports.
Both sides agreed to intensify efforts, with weekly virtual discussions paving the way for the sixth formal negotiation round. Leaders Donald Trump and Narendra Modi expressed optimism, aiming to finalize the first phase of the pact by Fall 2025, covering tariffs, market access, agriculture, dairy, and MSMEs.
