File picture of U.S. Chief negotiator Brendan Lynch (centre, talking). Picture: X/@USIBC

As a "continuation" of trade talks between India and the U.S., India will host the U.S. chief negotiator Brendan Lynch for a one-day meeting with India's chief negotiator Rajesh Agrawal, Mr. Agrawal said on Monday (September 15, 2025).

This follows developments earlier this month, when U.S. President Donald Trump spoke about the "special relationship" the U.S. shares with India, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi "fully reciprocates" the sentiment.

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These friendly overtures came at a time when the U.S. has imposed a total tariff of 50% on imports from India, which derailed the negotiations on a Bilateral Trade Agreement between the two countries. The latest round of negotiations was to take place during the last week of August, but was indefinitely postponed following the levy of the two-part tariffs on India.

"The chief negotiator of the U.S. is visiting India tonight (September 15) and tomorrow we will be holding talks through the day," Mr. Agrawal, who leads the negotiations with the U.S. on India's behalf, said at a press briefing.

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"This is not an official 'round' of negotiations but it will definitely be a discussion on the trade talks and on trying to see how we can reach an agreement between India and the U.S."

Mr. Agrawal said that India and the U.S. have been engaged in discussions at various levels -- ranging from the team of negotiators to even at the Ministerial level -- and so Tuesday's (September 16, 2025) meeting should be seen as a "continuation" of the talks.

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U.S. Ambassador-designate to India Sergio Gor, during his Senate hearing last week, said that Mr. Trump had invited India's Trade Minister to the U.S.

"We have also noted that, as part of his Senate hearing, he mentioned that the Indian trade minister has been invited," Mr. Agrawal said. "Tomorrow we will have discussions on it."

India-U.S. trade talks: U.S. chief negotiator to visit India on September 16 for trade talks