India and the US are likely to discuss and finalise a mega trade deal amounting to $10 billion in the second week of February during United States Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer visits New Delhi ahead of President Donald Trump’s expected visit, according to media reports on Wednesday.
India is keen to sign the deal during US President’s visit to India. The deal will be signed by both countries and is a forerunner to a free trade agreement between India and US.
Last week at the World Economic Forum’s Annual Meeting 2020 in Davos, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and USTR Robert Lighthizer discussed contours of the trade deal. A six-member team from the US administration was in Delhi over the weekend for a meeting with Industry and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
Piyush Goyal has invited Robert Lighthizer to discuss the details of a possible pact that has been stalled since before Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s US visit in September. India expects to sign deals to raise its defence and energy purchases from the US during Donald Trump’s visit.
The restrictions on import of medical devices had been a major hindrance in the finalisation of a mega trade deal between the two nations, the report added.
US President Donald Trump would stay at the ITC Maurya in New Delhi during his India visit on February 24-25. The hotel has been booked for February 21 to 24, according to OneIndia report.
Modi administration is likely to organise an event in Ahmedabad similar to the ‘Howdy Modi’ event in the US to be one such way to make him feel “Presidential”.
