US chief negotiator Brendan Lynch arrived in Delhi late Monday night to advance the India-US trade agreement. He will lead the US team and help resolve the stalled issues of the India-US trade deal. Lynch is the Assistant Trade Representative of the United States and is responsible for overseeing the trade policies of approximately 15 countries.
India-US Trade Deal: Crucial talks regarding the stalled trade deal between India and the United States are scheduled to take place in New Delhi on Monday. The US team will be led by Brendan Lynch, who is the Assistant Trade Representative of the United States and oversees US trade policy for 15 countries. This meeting is taking place for the first time since the additional tariffs imposed by Trump, and it will solely focus on trade issues. The objective of the talks is to move forward the India-US trade agreement and strengthen economic cooperation between the two countries.
Who is Brendan Lynch?
Brendan Lynch is the Assistant United States Trade Representative (USTR) and will lead the meeting as the chief negotiator for the US in the India-US trade deal. He completed his studies at Boston College and obtained an MBA from George Washington University. Lynch, who specializes in economic affairs, began working in the agriculture department of the US Trade Representative's Office in 2013.
Throughout his career, Lynch has played a significant role in trade agreements with countries such as South and Middle Asia, Israel, Mexico, Canada, and Russia. Currently, he is responsible for overseeing US trade policy and its implementation for approximately 15 countries. Additionally, he is managing the India-US Trade Policy Forum.
Trump's Tariffs and Their Impact on Negotiations
The US imposed additional tariffs on India just before the sixth meeting of the trade agreement between India and the United States. The previously applicable 25 percent tariff was increased to 50 percent. This move put a halt to the ongoing trade negotiations between the two countries, and the formal discussion on the Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) proposed for the end of August was postponed. Consequently, India's exports to the US were also affected, declining from $8.01 billion in July to $6.86 billion in August.
However, recent interactions between Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on social media, along with positive signals, have raised hopes that discussions on the trade agreement can now resume between both sides.
Recent Developments Regarding the Trade Deal
The US had completed five rounds of talks before increasing tariffs on India. This action was taken before the sixth round of meetings, leading to delays in the trade agreement. The decline in exports in July and August also made it clear that a timely resolution is needed.
The dialogue between Trump and PM Modi on social media indicated that the US would adopt a softer stance this time and maintain a positive outlook on trade matters. In this context, Brendan Lynch's visit to India could prove significant in accelerating this deal.
Objective and Focus of the Meeting
This meeting between India and the United States will be strictly limited to trade issues. Geopolitical matters or any other contentious issues will not be discussed. Rajesh Agarwal, India's chief trade negotiator and Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, stated that the objective of the meeting is to move forward the stalled trade deal between the two countries and strengthen trade relations.
The main focus of the discussions in this meeting will be on US tariffs, export-import regulations, and the technical aspects of trade agreements. The positive mindset of both sides indicates that the negotiation environment will be conducive.
