India, U.S. Seek to Revive Bilateral Trade Pact in New York

India’s commerce minister led a high-level delegation to New York this week for talks with U.S. trade officials aimed at reviving negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement, while India’s foreign minister held discussions with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal traveled to the United States from September 22 to 24 and met United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and other officials, the Ministry of Commerce and Industry said. External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar met Rubio in New York on Monday ahead of India’s national statement to the General Debate on September 27.

Officials said the Indian delegation, which included special secretary and chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, held constructive meetings that covered possible contours of a Bilateral Trade Agreement. The ministry said both sides agreed to continue engagements to pursue an early, mutually beneficial conclusion of the pact, which Indian and U.S. leaders have directed officials to negotiate. The agreement aims to more than double bilateral trade to about USD 500 billion by 2030 from roughly USD 191 billion...