India and the United States are expected to reach an interim trade agreement

Indian and US negotiators have made progress with talks focusing on market access, tariff reductions and non-tariff barriers for industry and some agricultural products, government sources said. India and the US are expected to reach an interim trade deal by the end of this month. The two sides discussed increasing bilateral digital trade through improved customs and trade facilitation measures, the sources said, adding that "talks will continue" for an early conclusion of the initial phase of the trade agreement. The next phase of talks is likely to deal with more complex issues, with the goal of signing the first part of the bilateral trade agreement by September or October, officials added. India has rejected US demands to open its market to imports of wheat, dairy and corn, while offering lower tariffs on high-value US products such as almonds, pistachios and walnuts, one of the sources said. India has also asked the US to remove the 10 per cent benchmark tariff. However, the US has objected, noting that even the UK must abide by this provision in a recent bilateral trade agreement.