• By Soumyaroop Mukherjee
  • Tue, 16 Sep 2025 11:34 AM (IST)
  • Source:JND
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After the bilateral standoff between India and the US over trade tariffs, both nations are to sit down for bilateral trade agreements (BTA) on Tuesday. From the US side, President Donald Trump has assigned Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia, Brendan Lynch, to negotiate the ongoing trade deal. From the Indian side, Special Secretary in the Department of Commerce, Rajesh Agrawal, will lead the crucial meeting.  

India and America have been trying to work out an interim trade agreement over the past few months. Still, there were reservations from the Indian side on the US demand for opening up the agricultural and dairy sectors. Both sectors are crucial for India, as they provide livelihood opportunities to a significant portion of the population.

Addressing the reporters, Rajesh Agarwal said, “Tomorrow, we will be holding talks to see what can be worked out. It will not be the sixth round of negotiations but rather discussions on the trade talks and trying to see how we can reach an agreement between India and the US.”

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Who Is Rajesh Agarwal?

Rajesh Agarwal is a 1994-batch IAS officer belonging to the Manipur cadre. Currently, he is appointed as the Commerce Secretary, succeeding Sunil Barthwal. He assumed his current role on September 30. 

"The officer will take over as Secretary, Department of Commerce... vice Shri Sunil Barthwal, IAS (BH:89) upon his superannuation on September 30, 2025," a government order said.

Agarwal is also leading the review of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) in goods with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). Additionally, he was also involved in the negotiations for the proposed comprehensive trade pact with Australia and Peru.  

Besides being the Commerce Secretary, he is also in charge of the Agriculture & Processed Food Products Export Development Authority (APEDA). He is also the chief negotiator for the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).

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Educational background: 

  • Rajesh Agarwal holds a graduate degree in Mathematics.

  • He also has a postgraduate degree.Inn International Business from IIFT, New Delhi

  • A master's degree in an unspecified field

  • Fluent in English, Hindi, and Manipuri

  • Agarwal has expertise in commerce and industry matters.