The United States Trade Representative, Katherine Tai, announced on Saturday that India and the United States have agreed to strengthen trade ties and enhance cooperation in areas such as critical minerals. This announcement came after discussions between India’s trade minister, Piyush Goyal, and Tai during their annual trade policy talks in New Delhi on Jan 12. The talks are part of Tai’s three-day visit to India.
Despite recent diplomatic tensions related to allegations of an Indian official’s involvement in a foiled plot to murder a Sikh separatist leader on US soil, the two nations are working towards improving bilateral trade prospects. India has launched its own investigation into the allegations, stating that any such action would be contrary to government policy.
During the talks, India expressed interest in a bilateral critical mineral partnership, with the goal of exchanging information to deepen their cooperation in this area. India also requested the United States to improve its visa processes for Indian business professionals and restore duty-free access to some goods under the generalised system of preferences, which was ended by former President Donald Trump in 2019. In return, Tai urged India to ensure that its policies on laptop imports do not restrict trade.