India-US Trade Deal Paused: High-Level Talks Resume Jan 2026 Amid Tariff Disputes

• India-US trade deal talks are currently paused due to holiday breaks, with high-level negotiations set to resume in January 2026.
• Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal expressed confidence in a "sooner than later" finalization, aiming for $500 billion bilateral trade by 2030.
• Key challenges include US demand for India to open its market for GM crops and India's request for relief from Russian oil penalty tariffs.
• India is considering concessions on agricultural products like almonds and apples as part of Tranche-1 tariff reduction discussions.
• USIBC President urged quick finalization, while US President Donald Trump's reciprocal tariff policy remains a discussion point.

Why It Matters: India-US trade deal talks are on hold until January 2026, facing challenges like tariffs and market access.