India’s Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal says the first phase of an India–U.S. trade agreement is finalised and now moves into legal drafting. He adds that the government expects the deal to be completed soon and that it is progressing in a “right direction,” with the negotiations continuing under Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal.
Goyal also links the timing of when the agreement becomes operational to India securing a “competitive advantage” for its industries. Separately, one outlet reports Goyal’s comments on India’s EU trade talks, saying an India–EU free trade agreement would be signed in December and could come into force from February or March the following year. Across the coverage, the main common points are the readiness of the first tranche, the start of legal drafting, and the plan to operationalise the U.S. pact after India improves its relative competitiveness.
