Joint statement soon: Piyush Goyal says India-US trade deal to be signed by mid-March

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Feb 5, 2026: Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India and the United States are likely to issue a joint statement on the trade deal within the next four to five days, adding that the formal agreement draft is currently being finalised and is expected to be signed by mid-March.

Earlier, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said India and the United States are complementary economies and that the proposed trade deal would be beneficial for both sides.

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said he concluded a “productive and positive" visit to the United States after meeting US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, noting that the India–US trade deal is in the final stages and will be completed very soon.

In a post, Jaishankar thanked Rubio for his warm hospitality and said the historic trade deal would open a new phase in bilateral ties with vast possibilities for the relationship. He added that cooperation on critical minerals is advancing rapidly and that further engagement on strategic issues, defence and energy can be expected in the coming days, underscoring that strong momentum now defines India–US relations.

He said negotiations for a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) have been underway since Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to the US in February 2025. The talks gained momentum after a phone call between Prime Minister Modi and US President Donald Trump on February 2, following which the trade deal was announced.

Addressing concerns raised by some members in the Lok Sabha, Goyal said negotiators from both countries had been engaged at multiple levels over the past year.

“Negotiators from both sides have been at various levels over the past year. During the negotiations, both sides safeguarded their important and sensitive sectors from the trade deal, at the same time ensuring maximum benefits for both countries," he said.

Goyal added that India had secured protection for key sensitive sectors, particularly agriculture and dairy, during the talks. “There were sectors which were important and sensitive from the US point of view. After negotiations for nearly a year, both sides have been successful in finalizing several areas of the bilateral trade agreement," he said, speaking in the Lok Sabha amid protests by some Opposition members.