Offers from India best-ever: USTR on proposed bilateral trade agreement
“They (Indian negotiators) were very tough nuts to crack… but they were pretty forward-looking,” Greer said at a Senate Appropriations Subcommittee hearing in Washington on Tuesday. “The offers they told us about…were the best offers we’ve ever received as a country. So I think it’s a viable alternative market.”
He said there is resistance to some grain products and other meat and produce in India. Row crops in the United States include corn, soybeans, wheat and cotton.
Five rounds of trade talks for BTA have been completed so far.
Meanwhile, a US team led by deputy trade representative Rick Switzer held talks with commerce secretary Rajesh Agrawal on the first day of talks on Wednesday.
“The two sides exchanged views on issues related to India-US trade and economic ties, including the ongoing negotiations for a mutually beneficial Bilateral Trade Agreement,” the commerce department said in a post on X. he said.
The visit is vital as India and the US are working to complete the first tranche of BTA. Washington imposed 50% tariffs on India starting August 27; 25% of these are penalties for Russian energy purchases. Trade experts said New Delhi should insist on balance and be extremely careful about making concessions to agricultural products or GMO products. They also warned that India should refrain from making commitments until the US Supreme Court rules on President Donald Trump’s tariff authority; This could reshape the entire negotiating table overnight.
As part of the BTA, the USA sought concessions on agricultural products and industrial goods such as almonds, corn and apples.
