India-US trade deal: Piyush Goyal shares update; ‘every country has to…’

India-US trade deal: Union commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal has said that India is not disappointed over delays in the India–US trade agreement as every country will prioritise its interests. Goyal said that India remains focused on safeguarding its interests. “Not at all. Every country looks after its own interests. We have to protect ours,” he told TOI in an interview, adding that “negotiations continue in a friendly manner.” These comments come after Economic Survey 2026 suggested that India and the United States might reach a trade deal conclusion this year. "Ongoing trade negotiations with the United States are expected to conclude during the year, which could help reduce uncertainty on the external front,” the Survey stated. The minister’s comments come days after India inked 'mother of all deals' with the EU and pursues multiple free trade agreements (FTAs) across regions, including New Zealand, Chile and other nations. Goyal said that India remains open to negotiating with economies that believe in fair trade, do not hurt India’s interests and respect its sensitivities.India and the US have been engaged in trade negotiations since March 2025. Since August last year, Indian goods have been subjected to a 50% tariff from America, one of the highest among countries. These tariffs consist of 25% reciprocal tariffs and 25% of additional tariffs, which the Trump administration alleged was due to India's continuous purchase of Russian crude.Meanwhile, speaking about the remaining trade deadlocks between the two nations, Goyal told Hindustan Times, “India and the US can now look at moving towards a closure of their bilateral trade negotiations since no ‘sticky issues’ are left to be resolved.” Describing the proposed agreement as a "a positive, good deal," he added, "we are actively engaged. We never do any deal with a deadline in mind; when both sides are satisfied, the date will be announced. I don’t think there are any sticky issues left to be resolved. We can now look at moving towards closure."