Parliamentary Committee on India-US Trade Relations Presents 200th Report, Recommends Early Finalization of Bilateral Trade Agreement
New Delhi: Dola Sen, Chairperson of the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Commerce, Rajya Sabha, presented the Committee's 200th Report on the Assessment of India-US Trade Relations in both Houses of Parliament on Thursday. The report provides a detailed assessment of the impact of US tariff measures on Indian industries and makes several important recommendations to the government.
The Committee held discussions for approximately 7 hours and 50 minutes in four meetings with representatives from the Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance, Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of MSME, Ministry of Textiles, Ministry of Agriculture, Department of Fisheries, APEDA, FIEO, CII, FICCI, banks, financial institutions, and various industry organizations. The Committee adopted the report on August 5, 2026.
Key Recommendations
- The India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) should be finalized expeditiously while ensuring India's interests are protected.
- A time-bound action plan should be prepared to achieve the bilateral trade target of $500 billion by 2030 under Mission 500.
- Efforts should be accelerated to reduce tariff and non-tariff barriers and facilitate market access for Indian exporters.
- Special financial and policy support should be provided to sectors such as MSMEs, textiles, gems and jewelry, automobiles, leather, agriculture, fisheries, chemicals, steel, and marine products.
- Recommended enhancing India-US cooperation in emerging sectors such as semiconductors, clean energy, artificial intelligence, digital technology, critical minerals, and defense manufacturing.
- Emphasis was placed on strengthening quality standards, logistics, certification, export credit, digital trade, and participation in global supply chains for exporters.
Concerns over US tariffs
The Committee noted that frequent changes in US tariffs on Indian goods are adversely impacting exporters, especially MSMEs. The report recommends that the government continue active dialogue with the US to protect the interests of Indian exporters and ensure timely resolution of trade disputes.
Emphasis on Services and Investment
The report highlights the need for increased cooperation in IT, digital services, the Global Capability Center (GCC), artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, fintech, and research and development. It also recommends simplifying regulatory processes to attract investment in advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, biotechnology, clean energy, and digital infrastructure.
The committee believes that a timely trade agreement, strong policy support, and increased India's participation in global supply chains can boost the country's export potential.
