New Delhi: An American negotiation team, led by a senior official from the US Trade Representative’s Office, Ambassador Rick Switzer, the deputy USTR, is set to arrive in New Delhi on Tuesday for direct discussions regarding the proposed first phase of the India-US bilateral trade agreement (BTA), according to sources familiar with the situation.
Switzer, a prominent figure within the USTR leadership who recently assumed his position in mid-October, will engage in a two-day formal negotiation with the Indian delegation on Wednesday and Thursday, as per the sources who requested anonymity. He is responsible for USTR matters related to Asia, textiles, investment, services, and intellectual property.
Additionally, he will be joined by assistant trade representative Brendan Lynch, who has served as the chief negotiator for the India-US BTA negotiations since the initial round of discussions in March 2025, according to the same anonymous sources.
Switzer is expected to meet with his Indian counterpart, commerce secretary Rajesh Agarwal, while Lynch will conduct negotiations with India’s newly appointed chief negotiator Darpan Jain, who is the joint secretary in the ministry of commerce and leads the negotiating team for the European Union.
This meeting represents a direct bilateral trade discussion between the two teams, which has not yet been officially designated as a BTA round, as noted by the sources. The discussions are likely to focus on resolving the impasse that arose “suddenly and abruptly” following the US’s imposition of a 25% punitive tariff on Indian goods for purchasing Russian oil starting August 27, in addition to the 25% reciprocal tariff enacted from August 7, according to the sources.
The implementation of a 50% additional tariff on Indian products halted BTA negotiations following the fifth round in the latter part of August. Bilateral discussions resumed after Lynch engaged in talks with Indian officials in New Delhi in mid-September. To date, six formal rounds of BTA discussions have occurred, with the most recent one taking place in New Delhi in September, according to sources.
The upcoming developments are crucial for various reasons. While Indian refiners have nearly ceased purchasing Russian crude, significant global economies are seeking bilateral trade agreements with India, which continues to be the fastest growing major economy globally, boasting an 8.2% GDP growth in the second quarter of FY26, as reported.
Immediately following Russian President Vladimir Putin’s visit to India, a delegation from the European Union arrived in India to negotiate the remaining aspects of a forthcoming FTA, which they hope to announce during the India-EU Summit scheduled for January 2026. Recent events are anticipated to lead to a softening of the US stance, potentially eliminating the 25% penal tariff to initiate earnest negotiations for a mutually advantageous early harvest deal, as indicated.
Individuals familiar with the ongoing FTA discussions between India and the EU in New Delhi noted that the 27-nation bloc has arrived with a substantial delegation.
In a post on X, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal stated, “I held a productive meeting with EU Trade and Economic Security Commissioner, Mr. @MarosSefcovic. We discussed the progress on the India-EU FTA and explored avenues to resolve the issues to further advance the negotiations. I look forward to continued cooperation towards a mutually beneficial India-EU FTA.”
He was replying to the commissioner’s post, which read, “In India for a two-day marathon of meetings with @PiyushGoyal to advance our trade and investment negotiations. EU-India ties are growing rapidly – as they should between partners. However, we have only begun to explore the potential. A commercially significant FTA would unlock tremendous opportunities.”
