The terms of reference (ToRs) finalised by India and the US for the proposed bilateral trade agreement (BTA) include around 19 chapters, covering goods, services, non-tariff barriers, rules of origin, customs facilitation, dispute settlement and regulatory issues, official sources said. The Indian team leaves for Washington on a three-day visit on April 23.
The negotiations will be led by additional secretary, department of commerce, Rajesh Agarwal, who will take charge as commerce secretary from October 1. The Indian team will iron out differences on certain issues before formally launching negotiations for the proposed BTA.
Discussions on the modalities, pathway for BTA and scheduling negotiations within an autumn deadline are on the agenda, the official said. He indicated that both sides are attempting to cover as much ground as possible in the 90-day pause in reciprocal tariffs, and aim to reach some kind of an interim trade agreement or understanding. During the visit, the ToR, finalised in four days of talks in late March when a delegation led by US trade representative Brendan Lynch visited India, would be further developed, the official added.
