New Delhi: The United States Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Thursday said that an Indian delegation will visit Washington later this month for talks related to the India US trade agreement. The announcement signals continued engagement between the two countries on economic cooperation.
Taking to X, the US envoy shared details of recent discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer. He said the meeting focused on advancing President Donald Trump’s trade priorities in South and Central Asia.
“The United States and India have previously agreed to a trade deal, and we look forward to welcoming an Indian delegation to Washington later this month,” Gor said in his post.
Sitharaman to skip Washington visit
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman was expected to be part of the visiting delegation. However, she will not travel to the US due to her responsibilities in Parliament.
Sitharaman will attend parliamentary proceedings where key bills are scheduled for introduction. These include legislation aimed at implementing 33 per cent reservation for women in the Lok Sabha and state assemblies.
Background of India US trade deal
India and the United States finalised a bilateral trade agreement on February 2, 2026, after several months of negotiations. US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi described the agreement as historic.
Despite this, the deal drew criticism from opposition parties in India, which raised concerns over its terms and long term impact.
Key provisions of the agreement
One of the major outcomes of the agreement was a reduction in tariffs imposed by the US on Indian goods. These tariffs were brought down from 50 per cent to 18 per cent.
The deal also outlines a commitment by India to invest USD 500 billion in US sectors over five years. These sectors include energy, aircraft and parts, metals, coal, and technology.
Energy and geopolitical considerations
The agreement also included conditions related to India’s oil imports. As per the White House fact sheet, India was expected to reduce its purchases of Russian oil and petroleum.
However, due to the ongoing conflict involving Iran, the US allowed India to continue limited purchases of Russian oil. According to US officials, these transactions would not result in financial benefit for Moscow.
The upcoming visit by the Indian delegation is expected to further discussions and address pending issues under the trade framework.