Five rounds of India-US trade talks held so far: Centre

New Delhi: India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) negotiations were launched in March 2025, with five rounds held so far -the most recent from July 14-18 in Washington, Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada told the Lok Sabha in a written reply on Tuesday.

The two countries aim to negotiate the first tranche of a mutually beneficial, multi-sector BTA by fall 2025. The US has imposed a 25% tariff on automobile imports and certain auto parts from all countries, including India. These tariffs took effect on April 3, 2025, for automobiles, and on May 3, 2025, for auto parts. "India has taken requisite steps to reserve all its rights consistent with the provisions of WTO Agreements," Prasada added. In a separate reply, the Lok Sabha was informed that the US has not yet imposed any additional tariffs specifically on BRICS countries. "While the US had announced a reciprocal tariff of 26% on certain Indian exports, including seafood, this has not been implemented. Currently, the US has imposed an additional 10% duty on seafood imports, regardless of country of origin - including those from India and Ecuador," Prasada said. He added that the government remains committed to supporting India's seafood sector through sustained diplomatic engagement and policy support.