Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump have directed officials to speed up discussions on a bilateral trade agreement, with fresh talks set to begin next week when US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer visits India.
The issue figured prominently during the meeting between the two leaders on the sidelines of the G7 Summit in Evian. Briefing reporters in Paris on Thursday, Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said both sides want to move quickly on the proposed agreement.
“All important issues on the minds of two leaders were discussed. One important issue between the two countries is the bilateral trade agreement and the two leaders instructed their officials to take this forward as quickly as possible,” Misri was quoted as saying by ANI.
Trade talks to resume next week
Misri confirmed that Greer will travel to India and hold discussions with the commerce minister to advance negotiations.
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“US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is coming to India next week and he will meet the commerce minister and take the talks forward,” he said.
The foreign secretary noted that the trade deal has been a key issue in bilateral relations and highlighted the need for greater predictability in economic ties.
“The trade deal, he said, has ‘created a certain amount of uncertainty over the past year’ and it is important to move toward ‘some kind of certainty on these issues’.”
#WATCH | Paris, France: Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri says, "With the United States, we have made significant progress already on the conclusion of an interim free trade bilateral trade agreement. We are in the final stages of concluding that agreement. Next week in fact the… pic.twitter.com/M1lC4HqUcN
— ANI (@ANI) June 19, 2026
Meeting aimed at strengthening ties
The Modi-Trump meeting was viewed as an effort to restore momentum to a relationship that faced strains after the US imposed 50 per cent tariffs on Indian exports last year. While both countries announced a framework for a trade agreement in February, negotiations have continued amid differences over tariffs and market access.
Addressing questions about issues such as Pakistan and cross-border terrorism not being discussed, Misri said the interaction between the two leaders was brief.
“India’s concerns and views on all [these] issues are well known and also known to our American partners,” he said.
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India on Iran-US peace efforts
Misri also welcomed the recent memorandum of understanding signed between Iran and the US, saying India hopes it leads to stability in West Asia.
“We have always expressed our readiness to contribute in any manner that we can. We have very strong relationships with all of the countries in the region,” he said.
He added that India remains in touch with regional partners and is prepared to support future efforts if required as the peace process moves forward.
FAQs:
What did Modi and Trump discuss at the G7 meeting?
The leaders discussed several issues, including accelerating negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement.
Who is visiting India for the next round of trade talks?
US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer is scheduled to visit India next week.
