Piyush Goyal Calls India-US Trade Deal Report 'False and Misleading', Confirms Negotiations Are Ongoing

Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Monday strongly refuted reports claiming that India-US trade negotiations had reached an impasse, describing them as "completely false, baseless, and misleading." In a post on X, Goyal dismissed an international media report that suggested India was delaying an agreement with the United States in hopes of securing more favorable terms. Rejecting the claim outright, he said there was no truth to the report.

The minister highlighted his productive discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during Greer's visit to New Delhi in June. According to Goyal, both nations reaffirmed their shared commitment to concluding a trade agreement that is balanced, commercially significant, and beneficial to businesses, farmers, workers, and consumers in both countries.

He added that officials from both sides remain actively engaged in negotiations and continue to work toward finalizing the pact. Goyal's remarks came shortly after Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal also dismissed suggestions of any roadblocks in the ongoing trade discussions. While briefing the media on India's June 2026 trade figures, Agarwal said the government sees no major obstacles to concluding the agreement.

He noted that trade teams from India and the United States have held multiple rounds of discussions, with Indian officials visiting the US in May and an American delegation traveling to India in June. The negotiations, he said, are proceeding within an agreed framework. Commenting on the wider global trade landscape, Agarwal acknowledged that recent US tariff measures have created uncertainty for several trading partners. However, he said India continues to participate in consultations with Washington, and the discussions are moving in a positive direction.

Agarwal also emphasized that both countries have consistently expressed optimism about the progress of the negotiations. According to him, the overall framework for the India-US trade agreement has already been finalized, and both sides are prepared to sign the deal once the appropriate time is determined. He added that the negotiations are becoming more structured and continue to advance steadily.