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India-US Trade Talks Plateau: FM Sitharaman Says Concessions Difficult
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CNBC TV18•05-10-2026, 10:49
India-US Trade Talks Plateau: FM Sitharaman Says Concessions Difficult
- •Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that India-US trade agreement negotiations have reached a "plateau," with both sides finding further concessions challenging.
- •Sitharaman suggested that movement might still be possible if both countries identify new areas for negotiation.
- •US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer previously indicated the deal was in "short strokes" but not imminent, with unresolved issues being addressed.
- •Sitharaman questioned the growing use of tariffs to address trade imbalances, advocating for negotiations as the traditional method.
- •India's recently concluded trade agreement with the European Union was highlighted as a template for future trade deals, covering a significant portion of global GDP and market.
Key Questions Answered
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman stated that negotiations for the India-US trade agreement have reached a plateau, as both sides face difficulties in making further concessions, although talks remain ongoing.
Sitharaman noted that while reducing the US trade deficit with India remains an important consideration for Washington, India cannot simply use tariffs to address its terribly lopsided trade imbalance with China and must instead negotiate.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman announced that India has developed a new template for bilateral investment treaties (BITs) that is expected to be approved shortly to provide a framework for future agreements.
