India-US Trade Deal In Final Stages, PM Modi And Trump Push For Early Conclusion

India and the United States are moving closer to finalising an interim bilateral trade agreement, with both sides entering the last phase of negotiations. The development comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump discussed trade cooperation during their meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in France.

Trade Agreement In Final Stage

Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said on Thursday that discussions on the proposed trade pact have made substantial progress and are now approaching completion.

"With the United States, we have made significant progress already on the conclusion of an interim bilateral trade agreement. We are in the final stages of concluding that agreement," Misri told reporters during a press briefing.

He also revealed that US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to visit India next week to carry forward the negotiations and help conclude the agreement.

Modi And Trump Direct Officials To Speed Up Talks

According to Misri, trade was one of the key issues discussed during the Modi-Trump meeting. Both leaders asked their respective teams to accelerate efforts and conclude the agreement at the earliest.

The comments came shortly after Trump stated that India and the United States were "very close" to finalising a trade deal that has been under discussion for several months.

Speaking after his meeting with Modi, Trump praised the Indian Prime Minister's negotiating skills and highlighted the growing economic partnership between the two nations.

"We had, in particular, some very good conversations with Prime Minister Modi, India. And we're doing trade deals, we're doing a lot of things, a lot of things are happening between the United States and India," Trump said.

Trump Praises Indian Investments In US

The US President also acknowledged India's increasing investments in the American economy. Referring to Modi's efforts to expand economic engagement, Trump said, "Prime Minister is building a lot in the United States. He's spending a lot of money in the United States."

India and the US had reached an interim understanding on trade in February after nearly a year of negotiations. Since then, both countries have continued discussions to finalise the framework of the agreement.

Misri noted that trade-related issues had occasionally created uncertainty in bilateral ties but emphasised that such challenges are natural in international relations.

"There are ups and downs in relations between nations, the leaders of both nations deal with them," Misri said.

India-UK Trade Pact Set To Take Effect From July 15

Alongside progress on the US front, India is also preparing to implement its trade agreement with the United Kingdom. Prime Minister Modi welcomed the upcoming enforcement of the India-UK Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA) from July 15.

Calling it a major step forward in bilateral relations, Modi said the agreement would strengthen economic cooperation and unlock fresh opportunities for businesses and investors.

"This agreement will significantly boost our bilateral trade and investment," he said in a post on X.

British High Commissioner to India Lindy Cameron also confirmed that the India-UK Free Trade Agreement will come into force on July 15. The deal, signed in July 2025 after nearly three years of negotiations, is expected to improve market access, expand trade volumes, and encourage stronger investment flows between the two countries.