Hopefully, we will reach a trade agreement with us this year: Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman

Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman. File | Image source: PTI

Treasury Secretary Nirmala Sitharaman began her trip between the two countries on Monday (April 21, 2025) and said she hopes to “positively conclude” the first part of the U.S. trade agreement by this fall.

Speaking to the Indian diaspora in San Francisco, Ms. Sitalaman said: “The long-term interaction with the United States is not only about reciprocity but also about … our biggest trading partner we need to reach an agreement.”

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“Ms. Siharaman is traveling to the United States for a five-day trip, where she will attend spring meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank, as well as meetings of the Community Finance Minister and the Governor of the Central Bank,” a government statement said.

She also plans to meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and is expected to speak with officials from the U.S. Trade Representative’s Office.

Her visit was a week of multiple wars between the two countries, and they would focus on trade as the alliance administration hoped to avoid U.S. tariffs through early trade deals and establish links with the Donald Trump administration.

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Officials hope to reach a deal amid a 90-day pause after Mr. Trump announced on April 9, 2025, for key trading partners including India, including India.

“Rajesh Agrawal, the main negotiator for the deal, is expected to start three days in the United States from Wednesday (April 23, 2025),” an official said.

U.S. Vice Chairman JD Vance also started a four-day visit to India on Monday (April 21, 2025) and will hold talks with Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Progress on the bilateral agenda outlined by Mr. Modi and Mr. Vance are expected to be made on the bilateral agenda outlined when they meet with President Donald Trump in Washington in February.

Officials said

“The center is willing to cut tariffs on more than half of its imports from the U.S., with a total value of $41.8 billion in 2024 as part of the trade agreement,” he said. ReutersS reported it.

U.S. government trade data shows that the United States is the largest trading partner, with two-way bilateral trade reaching US$129 billion in 2024, with a surplus of US$45.7 billion supporting India.