Bilateral negotiations initiated in early 2025 focused on addressing non-tariff barriers, tariff frictions, and broader market access between both countries. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar indicated that most remaining adjustments stem from the American side, following earlier affirmations of progress from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Securing favorable economic terms with the United States remains a strategic priority for Indian leadership. The finalized pact may be unveiled on the sidelines of the Miami G20 gathering on December 14 and 15.
Key points
Negotiators have sorted out complex tariff issues through a detailed, line-by-line assess…: Negotiators have sorted out complex tariff issues through a detailed, line-by-line assessment between both administrations.
India is actively seeking a balanced agreement that guarantees better tariffs than those…: India is actively seeking a balanced agreement that guarantees better tariffs than those offered to competitor economies.
The finalized bilateral trade pact could be officially announced during the G20 Summit sc…: The finalized bilateral trade pact could be officially announced during the G20 Summit scheduled for December 14 and 15.
Sources checked by our analysis pipeline: 1
New Delhi: India and the US have sorted out the bulk of the issues relating to the proposed trade deal and it could be sealed "soon" as negotiations are underway to resolve the last stretch of concerns, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said on Saturday.
His remarks come a month before Prime Minister Narendra Modi's likely visit to the US for the G20 Summit, on the sidelines of which he and President Donald Trump may meet to review the broader trajectory of bilateral ties and progress on the trade pact.
Also Read: US assures India lower tariffs than peers in trade deal
In an interactive session at the HT Leadership Summit, the external affairs minister said the negotiations are approaching the "finishing line," adding that many of the remaining issues are "not so much at our end" and that more changes have occurred on the American side.
"Well, it's certainly our hope, and in many ways anticipation that we are at the last stretch. That's not a secret," he said responding to a question on the negotiations for the trade…
Member nations are debating draft proposals that would eliminate a two-decade mandate requiring them to prepare simultaneously for both territorial defence and foreign crisis management. This strategic pivot addresses acute European vulnerabilities while adapting to reduced American military commitments across the continent. Allied leaders must now urgently decide how to distribute military resources before new readiness benchmarks take effect.
Dhaka is escalating pressure on New Delhi to hand over the former leader following her in absentia conviction and death sentence for crimes against humanity. The extradition push has introduced severe diplomatic friction between the neighboring nations, threatening bilateral engagements and future high-level state visits. Under domestic statutes, authorities maintain that the ousted official holds no remaining avenues to appeal her capital sentence.
Preparations for the trilateral summit in Shenzhen reflect sharply diverging strategic interests among the world's most powerful leaders, leaving little room for a grand diplomatic bargain. Observers and excluded nations fear the encounter could echo historical great-power carve-outs of global influence. Meanwhile, the stark contrasts between the leaders' personal diplomatic styles introduce considerable unpredictability to the high-stakes encounter.