'If Happy Then...': How Goyal Responded To US Saying It Has Received 'Best-Ever' Trade Deal From India

Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Thursday said India and the United States are making “steady and substantive” progress in their ongoing trade negotiations, noting that five rounds

of talks have already taken place and discussions during the current visit of the new USTR deputy were "very productive.""Negotiations are progressing well. We've had substantive discussions over several rounds of negotiations. In the past, I think five rounds have happened. The current visit is not a negotiating round. The current visit is a new deputy United States Trade Representative (USTR) who has joined about three months ago. It's his first visit to India. We're getting to know each other...We had very good substantive discussions," he said.He also noted that a deal is done when both sides stand to benefit, and it should not be negotiated with deadlines because there can be mistakes. "But I have said on record that a deal is only done when both sides stand to benefit. We should never negotiate with deadlines because you tend to make mistakes then," he added.Also Read: India-US Trade Deal Back On Track? What Happened During Piyush Goyal's 2-Day Delegation Visit

'If they are happy then...': Goyal

Answering a query about reported remarks of United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer that the US has received the best-ever trade deal from India, Goyal said "the happiness of the United States Trade Representative (USTR) is very much welcome."I do believe that if they are very happy, they should be signing on the dotted line," he said.Earlier on Wednesday, Goyal expressed optimism about ongoing trade negotiations with the United States, stating that discussions are "progressing well" towards a bilateral trade agreement. Speaking on the sidelines of the Rajasthani Pravasi Divas, Goyal said a US trade delegation has been in India since Tuesday, and talks have been advancing positively. "All agreements have many diversified angles. Many dots have been connected," the minister said.The minister noted that the latest exchanges allowed both sides to better understand each other's concerns and interests. He said the discussions remain focused and constructive, and that India is committed to continuing the process in a steady manner. While he did not give a timeline for any agreement, he made clear that progress depends on mutual benefit.(With agency inputs)