India and the US are set to execute the first phase of their bilateral trade agreement by mid-July, according to Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
The agreement will provide preferential access to India over its competitors, with the first tranche expected to be signed soon.
The latest round of talks, held in New Delhi from June 2-4, were led by assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch and additional secretary Darpan Jain.
A high-level US team is expected to visit India later this month, led by USTR Jamieson Greer, but the visit may be complicated by a proposed 12.5% duty on Indian goods under the US Section 301 forced labour investigation.
People familiar with the development say the talks have progressed well and an interim agreement is expected soon.
