Here is the latest on the India-US trade deal – India and the US are likely to discuss trade issues in their next call scheduled for tomorrow, January 13, as per Reuters. The international news agency quoted Washington’s newly appointed ambassador to New Delhi, Sergio Gor and stated that , “Both sides continue to actively engage. In fact, the next call on trade will occur tomorrow.”
“Real friends can disagree, but always resolve their differences in the end,” Gor said, according to Reuters. According to Reuters, Gor, as he formally took charge of his position, added that the two countries will continue to work on issues such as security, counterterrorism, energy, technology, education and health. Trade talks between India and the US have faced delays since last year, even as the two countries have come close to sealing a deal several times since agreeing to begin negotiations in February last year.
India to be invited to join US-led Pax Silica initiative
India will also be invited to join Pax Silica next month, Gor said, according to Reuters, referring to a US-led initiative to build a silicon supply chain from critical minerals to semiconductors and AI.
“The United States and India are bound not just by shared interests, but by a relationship anchored at the highest level,” Gor said, according to Reuters.
US President Donald Trump had earlier doubled tariffs on Indian goods to 50% in August 2025, including a 25% levy imposed as punishment for purchasing Russian oil.
In order to tackle the steep tariff and save its exports, India has already signed 14 Free Trade Agreements and six Preferential Trade Agreements with trading partners and is currently negotiating FTAs with several countries, including the European Union.
Optimism remains as India, US stay engaged on trade deal
Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal, in comments made elsewhere, also said that New Delhi continues to talk to Washington for a trade deal.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier agreed to target a deal by fall 2025, and to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030.
To bridge the $47 billion goods trade gap, India pledged to buy up to $25 billion in US energy and boost defence imports.
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