Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal is visiting the US from September 29 to October 5 for trade talks and a G20 ministerial meeting. A key focus will be India’s demand for a tariff advantage over rival exporters.
Goyal is expected to hold talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on the proposed India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA). The two sides have not yet resolved differences over tariffs.
Under the February 2026 framework, the US agreed to an 18% reciprocal tariff on most Indian goods. India wants its exporters to receive better tariff treatment than competitors such as Vietnam, Bangladesh, Thailand and Indonesia.
The talks now face another challenge. US President Donald Trump signed a Russia sanctions law on September 18. It allows tariffs of up to 100% on countries that meet certain conditions linked to Russian energy purchases. However, India does not automatically face a 100% tariff under the law.
The new measures have added uncertainty to the ongoing trade negotiations, as India remains a major buyer of Russian crude.
