India’s Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman says India-U.S. trade negotiations have reached a “plateau,” making additional concessions from either side “very very difficult.” She also says the U.S. is using tariffs in ways that amount to “weaponising” them, and that the underlying trade imbalance should be handled through negotiations and discussions.
Sitharaman’s comments come as the broader Bilateral Trade Agreement talks continue without a final deal. Sources report that negotiations have been ongoing since February 2025, with an interim agreement framework announced in February 2026 as a step toward the wider pact. The U.S. also signals that a deal is not imminent, while tariffs, market access, and the trade imbalance remain central issues.
Outlets differ mainly in emphasis: some focus on the negotiating “plateau” and limited room for movement, while others highlight India’s parallel efforts to pursue bilateral market-access agreements, including with the European Union. Separate reporting also notes that the U.S. is considering steps beyond the negotiations to address its imbalance with India, even as talks continue.
