NEW DELHI: India continued to pursue pragmatic solutions to the challenges posed by the current world trade order. New Delhi exhibited patience, resilience while resorting to appropriate and opportune diplomatic interventions. Monday’s twin meetings in the United States underscore such attempts.
In Washington, Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal’s trade engagement focused on the resumption of trade talks.
Meanwhile, in New York, the same day, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s meeting with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signalled an effort to steady bilateral relations amid trade frictions and new visa regulations.
India’s trade ministerial engagement in Washington sought to translate political goodwill into concrete commercial outcomes.
The intent was clearly stated in a ministerial handout announcing the delegation’s visit “to take forward the discussions with a view to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement”.
After a short period of freeze on bilateral talks, the September 16 Delhi visit of a trade team from the US witnessed a positive approach on various aspects of the trade deal.
Goyal’s visit was thus undertaken to intensify efforts in this regard, and so that the bilateral trade agreement (BTA) can be inked before the year ends.
The talks featured greater market access, supply‑chain cooperation, and dialogue on tariffs, non‑tariff barriers, and sectoral cooperation on technology, clean energy, and pharmaceuticals.