US chief trade negotiator Brendan Lynch arrives in Delhi to advance India–US trade talks, marking a push to resolve key bilateral trade challenges.
NEW DELHI: India and the United States are gearing up for a new round of trade negotiations, with senior US trade official Brendan Lynch arriving in Delhi to set the groundwork for upcoming discussions. The visit underscores both nations’ intent to revitalise bilateral economic ties and address outstanding trade issues.
Lynch, who serves as the Assistant United States Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, is expected to engage with key Indian officials across ministries to prepare for the next formal round of the India–US Trade Policy Forum (TPF). The forum has been instrumental in deepening commercial cooperation, and this latest move signals momentum towards resolving tariffs, digital trade policies, and market access barriers.
The visit comes at a time when both sides are seeking to bolster economic resilience and diversify global supply chains. Talks are likely to explore avenues for collaboration in strategic sectors such as digital services, critical minerals, semiconductors, and renewable energy technology.
India–US bilateral trade stood at over $120 billion in 2024, making the US one of India’s top trading partners. Despite strong ties, contentious issues such as digital services taxes, intellectual property rights, and medical device pricing have remained roadblocks in recent years.
Brendan Lynch’s visit is seen as an important step towards aligning mutual priorities ahead of the anticipated TPF meeting later this year. Both sides are also expected to discuss progress on the US–India Initiative on Critical and Emerging Technology (iCET), launched in 2023, which focuses on strengthening cooperation in emerging tech ecosystems.
The outcome of these preliminary meetings could determine the shape of the next trade policy round and help unlock new opportunities for economic growth and collaboration between the two nations.
