External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Thursday said that discussions on a proposed India–United States trade agreement are still underway and are being handled by Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, with no firm timeline announced yet.
Speaking to reporters in Washington DC, Jaishankar clarified that while a broad framework had been discussed at the leadership level, detailed negotiations were continuing through official trade channels.
Leadership-Level Discussion
Jaishankar stated that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump had recently spoken and discussed the overall framework of trade engagement between the two countries.
He noted that certain announcements emerged following that conversation, but emphasised that these should be seen as part of an evolving process rather than a concluded agreement.
Negotiations Still in Progress
According to the External Affairs Minister, the task of detailing and negotiating the trade terms is currently being carried out by the Commerce Ministry in coordination with US trade officials.
He said that questions regarding timelines and specific commitments would be better addressed by the Commerce Minister, who is in direct engagement with the US Trade Representative.
#WATCH | Washington DC | On US-India trade agreement, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar says, "It was not directly with me, because that is being handled by Commerce and Industries Minister Piyush Goyal. The Prime Minister and the US President had a conversation, some… pic.twitter.com/4in8ID9XPI
— ANI (@ANI) February 5, 2026
Claims Announced by US Side
Following President Trump’s announcement, the US side indicated that the proposed framework includes a reduction in American tariffs on Indian goods from around 25 per cent to 18 per cent.
The announcement also referred to India making large-scale purchases of American goods, estimated at over $500 billion, and changes in energy sourcing.
Indian officials have pointed out that a significant portion of the cited figure includes existing commitments, such as aircraft and defence equipment orders, rather than entirely new purchases.
Government Assurance on Sensitive Sectors
Addressing Parliament earlier, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal assured lawmakers that India’s agriculture and dairy sectors would remain protected in any final agreement.
He described the ongoing negotiations as a potential win-win arrangement, stressing that national interests would not be compromised.
Joint Statement Expected
Officials indicated that a joint statement outlining the agreed framework could be issued in the coming days, once discussions reach a clearer stage.
Until then, the government has maintained that the process remains under negotiation and that final terms will be disclosed only after formal agreement.
