Assistant US trade representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch will hold trade talks with India's chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal on September 16

Days after US commerce secretary Howard Lutnick said Washington will sort out trade with India, a chief negotiator is arriving in New Delhi late on Monday to continue talks for a bilateral trade agreement between the two countries.

Assistant US trade representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch will hold US-India trade talks with India’s chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, who is the special secretary in the department of commerce, on Tuesday (September 16).

India and the United States have virtually engaged on a weekly basis on trade, ministerial, diplomatic levels despite frosty relations over the Trump administration’s imposition of 50 percent tariffs on Indian goods as “punishment" over New Delhi’s purchase of Russian crude oil.

Giving no further details, Agrawal confirmed that India and the US will “fast-track" trade talks at an event for the release of trade data. Lynch is set to make a one-day visit to New Delhi, he said.

While Lutnick gave a caveat that trade talks will resume if India stops buying Russian crude oil, the news of Lynch’s arrival bodes well for the negotiations that were stalled due to New Delhi’s reluctance to open up its agricultural and dairy sectors. The US, however, could still push for reduction in oil and defence purchases from Russia.

Lynch oversees the development and implementation of US trade policy with regard to 15 countries in the region, including management of the US-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF) as well as coordination of activity under Trade and Investment Framework Agreements (TIFAs) with regional partners.

The Trump administration imposed an additional 25 percent tariff on Indian goods justifying it as “punishment" over New Delhi’s continued purchases of Russian oil starting August 27, taking the total on Indian exports to 50 percent, among the highest for any US trading partner.

The US tariffs on India have affected the country’s exports, slowing its overall shipments to a nine-month low in August. According to data, exports slowed to $35.10 billion in August from $37.24 billion in July, and the trade gap narrowed to $26.49 billion, from $27.35 billion in July.

Exports to the US fell to $6.86 billion in August from $8.01 billion in July. Shipments in the period from April to August stood at $40.39 billion. The full impact of higher tariffs from the US on Indian goods imports will be felt next month as the punitive tariffs kicked in from August 27.

India and the US had initiated talks for a just, balanced, and mutually beneficial BTA in March, aiming to complete the first stage of the deal by October-November.

Earlier this week, Prime Minister Narendra Modi responded warmly to US President Donald Trump’s affirmation of India-US relations, saying he “deeply appreciates and fully reciprocates" his sentiments and positive assessment of the bilateral ties. He noted India-US ties as “forward-looking" towards a “Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership," in a post on X.

“Deeply appreciate and fully reciprocate President Trump’s sentiments and positive assessment of our ties. India and the US have a very positive and forward-looking Comprehensive and Global Strategic Partnership," Modi said.

(With agency inputs)

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tags :

donald trumpIndia-US trade dealMinistry of Commerce and IndustryNarendra Modipiyush goyal

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First Published:

September 15, 2025, 17:05 IST

News india Trade Talks With US To Resume, Chief Negotiator Arrives In India Tonight

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