A top US diplomat underscored the key importance of "reciprocal and fair market access" in negotiations with his Indian counterpart as both countries press ahead with talks on a bilateral trade agreement.
On Wednesday, Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau sat down with India's Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri and discussed not just trade but also threats of illegal migration and counternarcotics campaigns.
Deputy Secretary Landau emphasized the value of balanced and mutual market access to economic growth and prosperity between the two nations," said Tammy Bruce, State Department spokesperson, in an official briefing of the meeting.
Landau's emphasis on balanced market access comes as news reports indicate that the US and India are on the brink of reaching a final trade agreement.
The US has for years been clamoring for increased access to the Indian market, something that enjoys bipartisan backing. The stance on reciprocity has been at the forefront of President Donald Trump's overall game plan to rebalance America's trade ties, not just with its traditional allies like the UK, EU, and Japan, but also with its rivals like China.
Earlier this week, a high-ranking US official intimated that a US trade agreement with India is on the horizon.
Indian Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal recently traveled to Washington for negotiations with Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who is spearheading US trade talks along with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, who is in contact with several international partners.
The US delegation also touched upon "the importance of increased cooperation on migration and counternarcotics," the spokesperson added, although no further information was given.
This note most probably refers to past cases in which Indian citizens were caught entering the US illegally, where many of them were later deported through American military planes—a procedure filmed in a heart-rending video of people in handcuffs boarding.
In addition, both representatives "reaffirmed their mutual interest in ensuring regional stability and peace."
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