The past year has seen the US and India achieving milestone agreements related to tariff and trade
In an effort to enhance the trade partnership between the United States and India, US Trade Representative Katherine Tai is scheduled to visit New Delhi from January 12 to 14, 2024. During this high-profile visit, Ambassador Tai will co-chair the 14th ministerial-level meeting of the United States-India Trade Policy Forum (TPF) alongside India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
The agenda for the TPF meeting is comprehensive. “During this year’s meeting of the Trade Policy Forum, Ambassador Tai and Minister Goyal will discuss a broad set of issues to enhance the resiliency of the trade relationship, including agriculture, industrial products, services, and the protection of intellectual property, among other topics,” the USTR’s Office said on Friday (December 5. 2024) as it announced the visit.
These discussions aim to enhance the resilience of the bilateral trade relationship between the two nations.
Established in 2010, the United States-India Trade Policy Forum plays an important role in strengthening and expanding the bilateral economic and trade relationship.
The past year has seen significant progress under the leadership of Tai and Goyal, with the US and India achieving milestone agreements beneficial to both countries, including substantial tariff reductions and the resolution of outstanding World Trade Organisation disputes.
On January 12, Tai's engagement will begin with a meeting with her Indian counterpart Goyal, setting the stage for the ministerial meeting. This engagement is crucial as it follows the successful 13th TPF meeting held in Washington DC last year, which Tai and Goyal had co-chaired.
While in New Delhi, the US Trade Representative is also scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
Apart from government-to-government interactions, Tai’s visit also includes meetings with civil society representatives, business leaders, and stakeholders on January 13. These meetings are part of the Biden-Harris Administration's commitment to deepening US-India ties, fostering dialogue, and understanding the dynamics of this bilateral relationship from various perspectives.
This visit marks the first trip to India in 2024 by a senior Biden administration official, underlining the importance the US places on its relationship with India. The outcomes of this visit are eagerly anticipated, as they are expected to shape the future course of US-India trade relations, contributing to the economic growth and prosperity of both nations.