US Commerce Secretary Holds Productive Trade Talks with India’s Commerce Minister

India: US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick met with India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal over lunch in the capital today, with US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor also in attendance. The discussions centered on expanding bilateral trade and strengthening economic ties between the two nations.

Minister Goyal described the engagement as “very fruitful,” and said “Hosted US Secretary of Commerce Howard Lutnick and US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor. Engaged in very fruitful discussions to expand our trade and economic partnership.”

Ambassador Gor echoed the positive tone, sharing a photo of the trio and writing: “A highly productive lunch with @howardlutnick and @PiyushGoyal. So many areas of cooperation for our two nations!”

The meeting comes amid ongoing efforts to advance the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement. It follows recent turbulence in US trade policy, including the US Supreme Court’s invalidation of President Trump’s proposed broad tariffs, which led to a temporary 10% duty on imports from various countries, including India, with potential for increases.

Officials indicated that Lutnick was in India on a personal visit, but the high-level interaction underscores continued momentum in India-US economic relations despite global uncertainties.