US Trade Rep calls India ‘tough nut to crack’ as trade talks intensify
By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer on Wednesday said “I have a team over there right now, as we speak, in New Delhi working on this. There’s resistance in India to certain row crops and other meats and products,” added “India is a tough nut to crack.”
The team of American negotiators in New Delhi for face-to-face talks on a bilateral trade agreement, US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said on Wednesday that India is a “tough nut to crack” but has offered the “best” deal so far.
The US trade representative claimed that New Delhi has offered Washington the “best deal” it has received as a country yet.
“The type of offers they’ve been talking to us about have been the best we’ve ever received as a country,” he added.
His remarks came as a team led by US Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer held negotiations with their Indian counterparts to finalize the highly anticipated bilateral trade deal between India and the US.
Switzer met Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri. The two officials held discussions on several issues of bilateral interest, including the ongoing trade negotiations.
According to the Ministry of External Affairs, they also discussed the India-US economic and technology partnership, opportunities to boost two-way trade, and resilient supply chains.
MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said on X “Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met US Deputy Trade Representative Rick Switzer. Discussions covered the strong India-US economic and technology partnership, ongoing trade negotiations, and opportunities to boost two-way trade and resilient supply chains”.
Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said that discussions between Indian and US negotiators are “progressing well” towards a bilateral trade agreement.
Goyal said, “All agreements have many diversified angles. Many dots have been connected.”
The trade talks between India and the US have progressed substantially over the last few months, though the original target of completing the first tranche by fall 2025 was delayed due to several issues, including President Donald Trump’s decision to impose tariffs on Indian goods.
