The US-India Strategic Partnership Forum (USISPF) revealed that negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States have picked up pace. This progress was highlighted during a closed-door roundtable at the USISPF’s IX Annual Leadership Summit in Washington, where senior business leaders met with United States Trade Representative Ambassador Jamieson Greer. Greer’s recent trade discussions with Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal in India have added significance to the ongoing talks.
The discussions primarily centered on advancing a balanced and mutually beneficial India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and an interim deal in alignment with the Joint Statement issued on February 6, 2026. USISPF Board Members engaged in talks with Greer on various key issues, including enhanced market access, digital trade, supply chain resilience, and the reduction of non-tariff barriers. The forum commended the progress achieved by Greer, Goyal, and their teams in recent months.
USISPF expressed optimism among businesses from both countries regarding the potential of the proposed agreement to help reach the “Mission 500” target set by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump to elevate bilateral trade to $500 billion. The forum’s commitment to supporting the negotiations for a balanced and commercially meaningful agreement that benefits businesses on both sides was reiterated. This phase was described as a significant moment in the India–US strategic and commercial partnership.
Mukesh Aghi, president and CEO of USISPF, emphasized that the discussions with Ambassador Greer at the IX Annual Leadership Summit showcased the increasing momentum in bilateral trade engagement. Aghi highlighted the positive trajectory in the US–India trade dialogue, noting the historic nature of the relationship as the countries mark 250 years of American independence. USISPF praised Ambassador Greer and his team for their efforts towards a mutually beneficial trade agreement.
USISPF emphasized that the recent discussions have instilled confidence among industry leaders about the steady progress towards a comprehensive trade framework that enhances commercial ties and fosters economic cooperation between the two largest democracies in the world.
