India-US Trade Pact Near Finalisation as Donald Trump Signals Different Bilateral Agreement

United States President Donald Trump has indicated that a bilateral trade agreement with India is nearing completion, describing it as a deal that will be unlike previous pacts. Trump stated that both countries want to make a deal and noted it is going to be a much different kind of agreement. The development comes alongside official visits and discussions, including US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to India and consultations involving Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal. Officials from both sides indicated that major tariff lines have been negotiated, with India seeking to protect sensitive areas such as agriculture and dairy products. Discussions have also addressed earlier sticking points, including tariffs, Russian oil purchases, and statutory US investigations under Section 301 and Section 293. The two countries are aiming to expand bilateral trade volume up to 500 billion dollars over the next five years as legal drafting and final contours of the agreement are processed.