India and the US have begun ministerial-level meetings in Washington starting May 17 to advance negotiations for the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal will meet with US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and USTR Jamieson Greer during his visit. These meetings aim to provide political direction and resolve key differences.
The discussions will cover market access, rules of origin, non-tariff barriers, and potentially lay the groundwork for an interim trade agreement focused on early wins. The next phase of talks between chief negotiators will take place from May 19 to 22, with an aim to finalize the deal by fall 2025. Both nations are prioritizing the agreement amid increasing global trade tensions and tariff pressures.
Meanwhile, Goyal is also considering the domestic industry’s plea to delay the implementation of Quality Control Orders (QCOs) for electrical appliances. Industry representatives support the intent of improving product standards but have requested more time to comply, especially regarding finished goods. The resolution of this issue could set a precedent for similar trade and quality regulations.