India-U.S. proposed trade pact's terms of reference includes about 19 chapters: Sources

India and the U.S. finalise terms for bilateral trade agreement, aiming to double trade to $500 billion by 2030.

The terms of references (ToRs) finalised by India and the U.S. for the proposed bilateral trade agreement include around 19 chapters covering issues such as tariffs, goods, non-tariff barriers, and customs facilitation, official sources said.

To give further impetus to the talks in the 90-day tariff pause window, an Indian official team will be visiting Washington next week to iron out differences on certain issues before formally launching negotiations for the proposed India-U.S. bilateral trade agreement (BTA).

India’s chief negotiator, Additional Secretary in the Department of Commerce Rajesh Agrawal, will lead the team for the first in-person talks between the two countries. Mr. Agrawal was appointed as the next commerce secretary on April 18. He will assume office from October 1.

The three-day Indian official team’s talks with the U.S. counterparts in Washington will start from Wednesday (April 23, 2025).

“Both sides will discuss the level of ambition. The ToRs will be further developed and discussed. What will be the pathway for talks? The ToRs will include issues like tariffs, non-tariff barriers, rules of origin, and regulatory matters,” the official said, adding general contours of the pact will be discussed, besides scheduling, so that things can be finalised in 90 days.

The three-day deliberations assume significance, as a senior Government official had earlier said that an interim trade agreement between India and the U.S. could be finalised in the 90-day tariff pause announced by the Trump administration if it is a “win-win” for both sides.

In international trade parlance, the level of ambition refers to the extent to which two countries are willing to commit to specific trade liberalisation measures.