US-India Trade Deal In Sight? Jaishankar Says ‘We’re Beyond The Middle Of Negotiations’
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| Jaishankar spoke about the trade deal with US at an interview with Newsweek. (Reuters Image) |
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has indicated that a long-anticipated US-India trade deal could be approaching a breakthrough, though final hurdles remain. Speaking to Newsweek, Jaishankar confirmed that both nations are deep in negotiations, signalling cautious optimism but stopping short of a firm commitment.
“We are in the middle — more than the middle — of a trade negotiation. I hope to bring it to a conclusion, but I can’t guarantee it as there is another party involved,” Jaishankar said. “We have to find a meeting ground. Watch this space over the next few days.”
The External Affairs Minister emphasised that US-India relations have steadily strengthened across successive American presidencies. “Just think about it — five US presidents: Clinton, Bush, Obama, Trump, Biden. At the end of every presidency, India-US relations have been better off than when it began,” he noted, reflecting on the trajectory of bilateral ties.
Underscoring India’s global standpoint, Jaishankar stressed that India is neither anti-West nor aligned against any bloc. “We are a political democracy, a market economy, a futuristic society. We attend G7 meetings, and I’m going from a Quad meeting to BRICS. How many countries can pick up the phone and talk to Russia and Iran?” he asked, highlighting India’s unique diplomatic leverage.
The comments come amid mounting anticipation that Washington and New Delhi could soon finalise a deal aimed at easing trade barriers, strengthening supply chains, and boosting economic cooperation between two of the world’s largest democracies.
Jaishankar was also candid about the reality that no relationship is ever without friction. Citing the Devyani Khobragade diplomatic dispute during his tenure as ambassador, he said, “At every one of these presidencies, something was a friction point between the two countries. The relationship will never be free of issues.”
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