India-US Trade Talks Advance, Focus on Fair Deal & Streamlined Imports

• India and the US continue negotiations for a "fair, balanced, and mutually beneficial" bilateral trade agreement, as stated by the MEA on December 26.
• MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal confirmed the US Deputy Trade Representative recently visited India to advance discussions.
• Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal noted on December 22 that India-US trade talks are at an "advanced stage."
• India is addressing US concerns regarding "burdensome" import-quality requirements.
• New Delhi announced reforms on December 24 to simplify import quality checks, including reduced paperwork and shorter timelines.

Why It Matters: India and US are actively progressing towards a balanced trade deal, with India streamlining import processes.