Cloud Over Trade Talks As U.S. Official Puts Off Trip

Hopes fade for deal during President Trump’s visit to India

- Suhasini Haidar

U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Robert Lighthizer has put off his trip to India this week, at least two official sources said, amid signs that the India-U.S. trade talks have hit a rough patch just ahead of President Donald Trump’s visit.

According to the sources, who are aware of the negotiations, no reason has been given for the change of plans in the USTR’s visit that was expected on Thursday, but that there is still a considerable chance that he would visit as a part of Mr. Trump’s entourage to finalize a trade package or a “mini-trade deal” with his counterpart, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal, on items that the two sides have been negotiating for more than two years now.

‘Missed opportunity’

The two chief negotiators have been speaking on the phone quite regularly, the sources added.

“If [President Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi] fail to bring even a modest agreement forward, it will be a missed opportunity to make progress that can benefit both countries and strengthen economic ties,” said Nisha Biswal, president of the U.S.-India Business Council at the U.S. Chambers of Commerce. She was speaking at an interview during a visit to India this week.