- September 5, 2025
When Will India-US Trade Deal Happen And What Are The No-Go Zones? Piyush Goyal Answers
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Amid a tariff tussle between India and the US, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said the ties between the two countries are “multidimensional and will only strengthen with time”
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal with US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick during a meeting, in USA, in May. (Image: @PiyushGoyal/PTI)
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal has hinted at a resumption of trade deal negotiations between India and the United States by November.
Amid worsening ties between India and the US due to a tariff tussle, Goyal said the relationship between the two countries is “multidimensional and will only strengthen with time”.
“Well, if you recall when Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi and President Donald Trump met in February, they had tasked the two teams to conclude the first tranche of a bilateral trade agreement by the fall of 2025, which is about November,” Goyal told News18 when asked if the now-stalled trade deal will be back on track soon.
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During an exclusive interview with Network18 Group Editor-in-Chief Rahul Joshi, he said India-US ties are one of the most consequential and the two countries are “allies and friends”. The friendship between the two is much stronger than a few isolated comments, he added.
“We will continue to be engaged to try and find solutions to reach that outcome. A few days, a few weeks, a few months in a nation’s history… such small periods will not define long-term objectives and goals,” he said.
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In reference to aides of US President Donald Trump – like White House adviser Peter Navarro – calling the Ukraine conflict “Modi’s war” or India “the laundromat of the Kremlin”, the Union minister said there could be “misunderstandings” reflecting “personal opinions”, which had resulted in “erratic and incendiary language”.
“I think they could be either some misunderstandings or some personal opinions that may be reflected in that. I do not think that deters the US and India from continuing to maintain our strategic alliance and partnership,” he said.
‘WE’LL NEVER COMPROMISE ON INTERESTS OF FARMERS…’
Trade talks between India and the US collapsed earlier this year as the former did not agree to opening its vast agricultural and dairy sectors. Bilateral trade between the world’s largest and fifth largest economy is worth over $190 billion.
Reiterating Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s stand on not compromising on the interests of the agrarian sector, Goyal said any issue of national interest can constitute “red lines” or “no-go areas” when it comes to making an important deal with another country.
“I think any issue that can hurt national interests, that can hurt the interests of our farmers, our fishermen, our MSME industry, issues with religious sensitivity — those would be broadly the issues where India would need an understanding when we finalise the framework of our agreement. And we will never compromise on the interests of our farmers, our fishermen, our MSMEs or our religious sensitivities,” he said.
‘WE NEGOTIATE BEHIND CLOSED DOORS’
In what can be seen as a swipe at US President Donald Trump’s recent claims that India “offered” to cut its tariffs on American goods to “nothing”, Goyal said he negotiates “behind closed doors” and not “with the media”.
“…I never negotiate such agreements and free trade deals with the media. We negotiate behind closed doors and once the negotiations are complete, we will certainly come back to you,” he said.
On how China has hit the US with retaliatory tariffs and if India will take similar action, he said India believes in dialogue and diplomacy as its ultimate goal is to strengthen relations.
“Well, India is a patient country and I believe we should give it every effort to come to a better, deeper understanding within the framework of international trading laws. We have always believed in dialogue and diplomacy and an effort to strengthen rather than weaken relations,” he said.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
September 05, 2025, 00:03 IST
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