India-US Trade Deal Still Not Imminent as Key Sticking Points Remain

A proposed India-US trade deal is still not imminent, despite continued negotiations between the two countries, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on October 1, 2026. Greer said Washington and New Delhi remain engaged and are working through several unresolved issues. 

The latest comments came as Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal was in the United States for trade discussions and the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Milwaukee.

Talks Continue, but No Immediate Agreement

Greer said he had a constructive conversation with Goyal during the G20 meeting and that officials from both countries were continuing to work toward an agreement.

However, he indicated that several sticking points remain, meaning the negotiations have not yet reached a stage where an immediate signing can be expected. 

The two sides are discussing an interim trade agreement as part of wider negotiations for a US-India Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA).

India Is Seeking an Interim Agreement

Goyal's September 29–October 5 US visit was intended to advance negotiations and pursue an interim agreement aligned with the framework announced earlier in 2026. 

India's Commerce Ministry had earlier said the two countries were working toward a balanced and mutually beneficial arrangement, with the broader BTA intended to expand market access and strengthen supply chains.

A February 2026 joint statement between India and the US announced a framework for an interim agreement and reaffirmed the broader BTA negotiations. 

Why Has the Deal Taken So Long?

The negotiations have involved difficult questions over tariffs, market access and India's trade interests.

US trade policy toward India has also been affected by Washington's concerns over India's purchases of Russian oil. India has objected to tariff measures connected to those purchases, warning that such measures could affect bilateral economic relations. 

Earlier in 2026, India also indicated that it would delay signing a trade agreement while additional US investigations created further uncertainty around the negotiations. 

A Deal Is Still Being Pursued

The latest statement does not mean negotiations have broken down.

Greer said the two governments remain actively engaged and are working to resolve the outstanding issues. Goyal's ongoing visit and his meeting with Greer demonstrate that negotiations are continuing at a high level. 

The Indian government has also continued to describe the objective as reaching an agreement that is balanced and mutually beneficial.

What Happens Next?

The immediate focus will be on whether Indian and US negotiators can resolve the remaining differences sufficiently to conclude an interim agreement.

Until an agreement is formally concluded and its terms are announced, the exact tariff concessions, market-access commitments and implementation arrangements cannot be treated as final.

TVR Perspective

The latest developments show that the India-US trade negotiations remain active but unresolved. The distinction between a negotiating framework and a final, implemented trade agreement is important: the two governments have established a basis for negotiations, but several issues still need to be settled before a final arrangement can take effect.

Sources & Verification

TVR verified the latest status using Reuters reporting on US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer's October 1 comments, Indian government information on Piyush Goyal's US visit, and the February 2026 India-US joint statement on the interim trade framework. 

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