- By Chetna Shree
- Fri, 20 Feb 2026 06:08 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
India-US Trade Deal: India is set to operationalise several trade deals and free trade agreements (FTAs) in 2026, beginning with the interim trade pact with the United States in April, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Friday. Earlier this month, India and the US announced that they had reached an interim trade deal.
India-US Interim Trade Deal To Be Operationalised In April: Goyal
On the India-US interim trade deal, Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said that the pact is likely to be signed in March and operationalised in April. To finalise the text of the interim trade agreement, officials from India and the United States will meet for three days starting February 23, news agency PTI reported.
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This interim trade deal follows a month of negotiations between the two countries. During this period, the Trump administration had imposed a 50 per cent tariff on Indian exports, including a 25 per cent levy, citing India's purchase of Russian oil as indirectly supporting Moscow's war machine against Ukraine.
FTA With THESE Countries To Be Operationalised Soon
Goyal also stated that free trade agreements with the United Kingdom and Oman are expected to come into effect in April, while a similar agreement with New Zealand is likely to be implemented in April, the PTI report added.
Farmers, MSMEs Fully Protected In India-US Trade Deal: Goyal
Under the trade deal, reciprocal tariffs on India have been reduced from 50 per cent to 18 per cent, while India has also committed to lower tariffs on American products. The Union Minister had earlier assured that the trade pact fully protects farmers and the agricultural sector.
He emphasised the new opportunities it offers for farmers, fishermen, and micro, small, and medium enterprises to access the $30 trillion US market. The minister added that the formal pact is likely to be signed by March, after which India's tariff reductions on US exports would come into effect.