3 min readNew DelhiUpdated: Apr 15, 2026 04:19 PM IST
India is set to send an official delegation to Washington next week to resume the high-stakes trade negotiations with the United States. The visit comes at a critical juncture as both countries move closer to finalising an interim bilateral trade agreement framework.
The development comes barely a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump spoke over the phone for around 40 minutes.
The upcoming discussions are expected to play a decisive role in shaping the first phase of the India-US trade pact, which has been under negotiation for months, the PTI reported quoting government sources.
Officials indicate that the meeting will focus on resolving outstanding issues, particularly in light of recent changes to the United States’ tariff policies.
The interim agreement was initially expected to be signed in March, with chief negotiators from both countries originally scheduled to meet in February to finalise the legal text of the agreement.
However, evolving tariff structures in the United States — triggered by a ruling from the Supreme Court of the United States — have delayed the process.
Following the ruling, US President Donald Trump implemented a temporary 10 per cent tariff on imports from all countries for a 150-day period starting February 24. This move significantly altered the global trade landscape, affecting India’s earlier advantage under the proposed agreement.
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Previously, under the February framework, the US had agreed to reduce tariffs on Indian goods to 18 per cent. However, the imposition of a uniform tariff across trading partners has reshaped the competitive dynamics.
The latest round of talks had been postponed last month due to uncertainties surrounding the revised tariff architecture.
With the tariff regime now clearer, both sides are expected to revisit key provisions and align their positions before moving toward formalising the deal.
Section 301 investigations add pressure to talks
The Washington meeting also gains added significance as the United States intensifies scrutiny of global trade practices under Section 301 investigations.
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On March 12, the Office of the United States Trade Representative launched a wide-ranging probe covering 60 economies, including India and China. The investigations will determine whether acts, policies, and practices of each of these economies related to the failure to impose and effectively enforce a ban on the importation of goods produced with forced labour are unreasonable or discriminatory, and burden or restrict US commerce, the PTI reported.
A Section 301 investigation initiated on March 11 targets industrial policies and trade practices across 16 economies, including India. These probes could influence the trajectory of bilateral trade relations and may become a key discussion point during the upcoming negotiations.
With agency inputs
