Limited trade pact with US just a few phone calls away, says Piyush Goyal

A limited trade pact with the US is only a few phone calls away and will solve the bilateral issues that have accumulated over the past few years, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on Tuesday.

Speaking at the India Ideas Summit, organised by the US India Business Council, Goyal stressed that rather than wait for talks on a full Free Trade Agreement (FTA), India was willing to have an ‘early harvest trade deal’ that takes into account 50-100 export products and services.

‘Early harvest’ refers to a trade policy, in which both parties sign off on a set of deliverables. But Goyal also keenly batted for a more comprehensive trade deal as soon as possible. “The US and India need to sit down on the negotiating table.