Goyal Says First Phase of India–U.S. Trade Pact Is Finalised and Under Legal Drafting

India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on October 15 that the first phase of a bilateral trade agreement with the United States had been finalised and was undergoing legal drafting. Speaking to students at SRCC’s Centenary Conclave in New Delhi, he said he hoped the remaining work would be completed soon. He said implementation depended on India securing a competitive advantage over peer economies. The two countries announced an interim framework in February 2026, while India seeks preferential treatment for exporters and protection for sensitive sectors including agriculture and dairy.