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Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue in Germany, the minister emphasised that the ultimate conclusion of the pact would be guided solely by national interest
The minister confirmed that the trade talks are ‘progressing in a very cordial atmosphere’. File pic/PTI
Union Minister of Commerce and Industry Piyush Goyal stated definitively on Friday that India would not be coerced into signing a bilateral trade agreement with the United States under duress or within an artificial deadline. Speaking at the Berlin Global Dialogue in Germany, the minister emphasised that the ultimate conclusion of the pact would be guided solely by national interest, despite ongoing negotiations and existing US tariffs on Indian goods.
“We are in active dialogue with the US, but we do not do deals in a hurry and we do not do deals with deadlines or with a gun to our head,” Goyal said.
The minister stressed that any agreement must fully safeguard the interests of critical domestic sectors, specifically mentioning India’s farmers, fishermen, and the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSME) sector. He articulated that trade deals are long-term instruments built on trust and a lasting relationship, extending beyond immediate issues like tariffs or short-term market access.
Goyal’s remarks come amid heightened trade and geopolitical tensions, with the US imposing a cumulative 50 per cent tariff on certain Indian exports—part of which is a penalty related to India’s continued purchase of Russian crude oil. India has consistently described these duties as “unfair, unjustified, and unreasonable”.
Despite this, the minister confirmed that the trade talks are “progressing in a very cordial atmosphere”. A high-level Indian delegation, led by the commerce secretary, was recently in Washington to hold its fifth round of talks with US counterparts. Both nations had initially set a goal to finalise the first tranche of the proposed Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) by the fall of 2025.
The proposed pact aims to significantly boost the bilateral trade volume, which currently stands at approximately $131.84 billion for the fiscal year 2024-25, to a target of $500 billion by 2030. While an official close to the negotiations indicated on Friday that the two sides are “very near” to concluding the deal, Goyal’s comments underscore India’s unwavering position to prioritise the long-term benefits and sovereign concerns over any external timelines or pressure tactics.
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d…Read More
The News Desk is a team of passionate editors and writers who break and analyse the most important events unfolding in India and abroad. From live updates to exclusive reports to in-depth explainers, the Desk d… Read More
October 24, 2025, 17:02 IST
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