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The ongoing trade deal talks between India and America are now expected to gain new momentum. The government has appointed Darpan Jain as the new Chief Negotiator from India, who will lead the entire negotiating structure. The high-level meetings to be held in December are expected to make concrete progress on the trade agreement between the two countries.
New Delhi. The long-running trade deal talks between India and America have taken a new turn. The Government of India has appointed Darpan Jain, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Commerce, as the new Chief Negotiator. Jain, a 2001 batch IAS officer of Karnataka cadre, will now lead all the talks between the two countries. Earlier this role was being played by Rajesh Aggarwal, who has now been made Commerce Secretary. However, as secretary, Aggarwal will continue to monitor the entire negotiating structure.
Darpan Jain’s experience will strengthen the talks
Darpan Jain has been working in the Commerce Ministry for the last six years and has played an important role in bilateral trade agreements with many big countries. His expertise is considered in international trade and policy negotiations. His appointment has come at a time when discussions regarding the Comprehensive Trade Agreement (BTA) between India and America are intensifying. Jain’s understanding and experience is expected to speed up this process.
US delegation to visit India on 9–11 December
From the US side, a high-level delegation led by Deputy US Trade Representative Ambassador Rick Switzer is visiting India from 9 to 11 December 2025 to take the talks forward. This visit is also important because talks are likely to get a new direction on many pending trade issues – such as tariffs, market access and service sector. The American team will hold several rounds of meetings with Indian officials.
Formal trade talks will be held on 10-11 December
Formal talks between the two countries have been scheduled for December 10 and 11. All major issues like agriculture, digital trade, manufacturing, market access, intellectual property rights and trade barriers are going to be discussed in these meetings. India and America have been trying to take forward the Comprehensive Trade Agreement (BTA) for a long time, and this time it is expected that progress can be recorded in many important areas. Under the leadership of the new Chief Negotiator, India’s strategy can appear even stronger and clearer.
