US Deputy trade rep to visit India as both nations eye December deal

Two senior American officials are set to visit India to give momentum to the political and trade partnerships, following US tariffs and President Donald Trump's outreach to Pakistan.

Undersecretary of state for political affairs Allison Hooker will meet senior Indian officials and discuss regional security, economic cooperation and shared priorities in the Indo-Pacific, according to a US statement.

In Bengaluru, Hooker will visit the Indian Space Research Organisation and promote innovation in US-India research partnership, the statement added.


Simultaneously, India and the US will commence three-day talks on the first phase of their proposed bilateral trade agreement from December 10. The US team will be led by deputy United States Trade Representative Rick Switzer.

The trip is crucial as India and the US are working to finalise the first tranche of the trade pact by the end of December. "The three-day talks will start on December 10. It will conclude on December 12. It is not a formal round of talks," according to a source.