The planned visit of US trade officials to India for bilateral trade discussions has been postponed to a later, yet-to-be-announced date, according to CNBC-TV18 sources. The meeting, initially scheduled for August 25 in New Delhi, was set just two days before the 25% additional tariff on Indian goods was due to take effect.
US President Donald Trump had imposed a 25% tariff on select Indian imports, effective from August 7. While new dates for the postponed negotiations are not yet confirmed, the delay marks a significant pause in ongoing discussions aimed at finalizing a trade agreement.
India and the US have already conducted five rounds of negotiations on the proposed bilateral trade deal. The sixth round, originally planned for late August, was expected to focus on sensitive sectors such as agriculture and dairy. The US has been urging India to ease restrictions in these areas, but New Delhi has consistently emphasized protecting the interests of local farmers and fishermen.
Additionally, India’s Ministry of External Affairs criticized what it called “unfair targeting” by the US for India’s purchase of Russian oil, noting that other countries, including members of the European Union, continue trade with Moscow.
The two nations had previously outlined a roadmap to conclude the first phase of the trade agreement by September-October 2025, with an ambitious goal to double bilateral trade to $500 billion by 2030. The recent postponement leaves the timeline uncertain, while both sides aim to balance trade expansion with domestic economic priorities.