An Indian delegation will arrive in the US on October 20 for a three-day visit aimed at advancing negotiations on a bilateral trade agreement that has been under discussion for several months. Led by chief negotiator Darpan Jain, the team will meet in person after a gap of about three to four months of virtual engagements. According to Rajesh Agrawal, secretary in the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the focus will be on finalizing the legal agreement, which follows a joint statement made on February 7. This agreement includes a proposal for the US to reduce tariffs on Indian exports from 50% to around 18%. However, changes in the US tariff landscape, particularly after the Supreme Court's decision to set aside broad reciprocal duties imposed by former President Donald Trump, have influenced these discussions. Currently, the US has implemented a temporary uniform tariff of 10% on imports from all countries for a 150-day period starting February 24. The upcoming talks will address how to structure and resolve outstanding issues, and both countries aim to finalize timelines and next steps in the negotiations. The announcement follows a recent call between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Trump, highlighting ongoing cooperation between the two nations. In FY26, India's exports to the US reached $87.31 billion, up from $86.51 billion the previous year, while imports increased to $52.90 billion from $45.63 billion in FY25.