India Holds Advantage in Trade Gap with US Amid Stalled Talks, Minister Highlights

Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman said on Monday that the trade balance between India and the United States currently resides on India's side, even as negotiations for a comprehensive trade agreement face a deadlock. She described the situation as a “hard‑to‑move” stage for both sides.

The dialogue proceeds under the roadmap of the interim agreement announced in February 2026, which was meant to pave the way for a final, binding treaty. The United States, according to the minister, is looking to reduce its persistent trade deficit with India.

Sitaraman cited the India‑EU trade pact as a strategic reference point, noting that the deal covers economies representing around a quarter of global GDP and two‑billion people. Under the pact, India removed 92.5 % of tariff lines and roughly 97 % of trade value, while the EU reciprocated with access to about 99 % of its trade value and 97 % of tariff lines.