India Says First Phase of U.S. Trade Deal Is Nearly Done, Seeks Edge Over Rivals

India’s Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal said the broad contours of a trade agreement with the United States are “more or less” settled, though discussions continue and no signing date has been set. New Delhi’s key demand is preferential market access that gives Indian exporters better tariff treatment than competing countries. Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has said India wants rates below those faced by rivals, or zero in some cases. Officials say the remaining tariff framework is central to finalizing the first phase of the deal.