New Delhi, this Tuesday — Brendan Lynch, the US Assistant Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, arrived in New Delhi on Monday night to hold a day-long meeting with Indian trade officials to discuss the bilateral trade agreement between India and the United States.

The talks come after the US imposed a 50% tariff on Indian goods, which disrupted the ongoing trade negotiations. The sixth round of formal negotiations, originally scheduled for late August, was postponed due to these tariffs.

India's chief negotiator Rajesh Agarwal, a special secretary in the commerce ministry, said on Monday that the discussions on Tuesday are not officially the sixth round of negotiations but are intended to explore ways to move forward and reach an agreement. He noted that weekly virtual discussions had been ongoing but progress was limited due to an unconducive environment, which now appears to be improving.

Lynch oversees US trade policy with 15 countries in South and Central Asia and manages the US-India Trade Policy Forum and related trade agreements. The talks in New Delhi aim to address the impact of the US tariffs on Indian exports and to reset the bilateral trade relationship.

The meeting follows positive remarks from Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi regarding US President Donald Trump's assessment of trade ties between the two nations.

Sources: The Shillong Times, Hindustan Times, Tribune India, Times of India.