US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor on Wednesday expressed optimism over ongoing trade negotiations between India and the United States, saying progress is being made towards finalising an interim bilateral trade agreement.
In a post on X, Gor welcomed Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch to India and said discussions are advancing under the shared vision of Narendra Modi and Donald Trump to strengthen economic ties between the two countries.
“Always great to see Assistant USTR Brendan Lynch. Brendan and his team are in town to continue finalizing the interim trade deal. Our efforts are guided by President Trump and Prime Minister Modi’s vision of enhancing trade and investment between our countries. Progress is being made,” Gor said.
The remarks come at a crucial time as trade talks continue alongside a new proposal by the Office of the United States Trade Representative to impose additional tariffs on imports from 60 economies, including India, over concerns related to forced labour practices in global supply chains.
The USTR has proposed additional duties of 10 per cent and 12.5 per cent on imports from various countries following investigations under Section 301 of the US Trade Act. India is among 54 economies identified by the USTR as having allegedly failed to adequately prohibit or enforce restrictions on the importation of goods produced through forced labour.
The list also includes countries such as China, Japan, Australia, Israel, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea and the United Kingdom.
According to the USTR proposal, economies that have already implemented some form of forced labour import prohibition, or have committed to such measures through trade agreements, could face an additional tariff of 10 per cent. Others may be subjected to a 12.5 per cent duty.
Responding to the proposed measures, the Indian government said the tariffs are not yet final and that the consultation process remains underway. Stakeholders have been invited to submit comments and participate in public hearings before a final decision is taken.
India reiterated that it remains engaged with the United States on the issue under the ongoing Section 301 proceedings while simultaneously negotiating a broader trade framework agreement announced earlier this year.
The current round of negotiations, taking place from June 1 to 4, is being led by Brendan Lynch on behalf of the United States and India’s Additional Secretary Darpan Jain.
According to India’s Ministry of Commerce, discussions are focused on finalising the interim trade pact and advancing talks on a comprehensive bilateral trade agreement covering market access, non-tariff barriers, customs and trade facilitation, investment promotion and economic security cooperation.
