Greer says India-U.S. trade deal is not imminent

U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said the United States and India have identified the remaining issues in negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement but do not have an imminent deal, despite what he described as advanced talks. Negotiators are continuing discussions, and President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi may speak again soon to review progress, Greer said. Speaking after the G20 Trade Ministers Meeting in Milwaukee on Thursday, Greer described the talks as being in the “short strokes” and said both governments were working to resolve the outstanding issues. He did not specify what those sticking points are or provide a timetable for an agreement. His remarks indicate that the negotiations remain active, not that a deal has been finalized. Greer said he had a constructive conversation with India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal at the meeting and that staff from both sides were continuing talks. He also said Trump and Modi had held a constructive phone call on Wednesday and might speak again soon to assess the negotiations. No date for another call was confirmed.