What’s Next for India-US Trade Talks? Key Negotiations Set for April 2026

Upcoming Trade Discussions in Washington

New Delhi: A delegation of approximately twelve Indian officials is scheduled to arrive in Washington on April 20 for a three-day negotiation session regarding the initial phase of the bilateral trade agreement (BTA), as confirmed by an official source.

Given the recent shifts in the US tariff landscape, both nations are expected to reassess the agreement's framework, which was initially unveiled on February 7.

In light of the US Supreme Court's ruling against extensive tariffs imposed by former President Donald Trump on various countries, a 10% tariff was enacted on all nations starting February 24 for a duration of 150 days.

The discussions will take place from April 20 to 22 in Washington, D.C., with India's chief negotiator, Darpan Jain, who serves as the additional secretary in the commerce department, leading the team. Officials from the customs and external affairs ministries will also participate.

Additionally, two unilateral investigations initiated by the US Trade Representative (USTR) are likely to be addressed during these talks.

India has firmly dismissed the allegations presented by the USTR in these investigations under Section 301 of trade law, requesting the termination of the probes due to a lack of substantial justification.

Under the proposed framework, the US had committed to reducing tariffs on Indian goods from 50% to 18%. This included the removal of a 25% tariff on Indian imports related to Russian oil, with plans to further decrease the remaining tariffs.

However, following the Supreme Court's decision on February 20 against Trump's reciprocal tariffs, the President announced a blanket 10% tariff on all countries effective February 24.

Due to these developments, a previously scheduled meeting between the chief negotiators of India and the US was postponed, but they are now set to convene in Washington in April 2026.

As part of the agreement framework, India proposed to eliminate or lower tariffs on a variety of US industrial goods and numerous food and agricultural products, including dried distillers' grains (DDGs), red sorghum for animal feed, tree nuts, fresh and processed fruits, soybean oil, wine, and spirits.

India also expressed its intention to invest USD 500 billion in US energy products, aircraft, precious metals, technology, and coking coal over the next five years.

With the recent changes, India now faces a recalibration of the agreement, as it previously held a competitive edge over other nations. The uniform 10% tariff imposed on all US trading partners necessitates adjustments to the pact.

"The agreement will need to be recalibrated and redrafted," stated a government source, adding that significant changes are anticipated from the US side.

"Since the agreement has not yet been finalized, we have the flexibility to make necessary adjustments at this stage," the source noted.

As global circumstances evolve, countries are actively engaging with the US to redefine their trade agreements.

In a notable shift, China has surpassed the US to become India's largest trading partner for the fiscal year 2025-26, after the US held that position for four consecutive years until 2024-25.

India's exports to the US saw a slight increase of 0.92% to USD 87.3 billion last fiscal year, while imports surged by 15.95% to USD 52.9 billion, resulting in a trade surplus that decreased to USD 34.4 billion in 2025-26 from USD 40.89 billion in 2024-25.