New Delhi: As global economic uncertainties intensify, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has asserted that India is now driving momentum towards a trade agreement with the United States. Speaking at the Global Technology Summit in New Delhi, Jaishankar emphasized that this time, it is India that is pushing with urgency for a deal — a reversal of the traditional dynamic.
“In the past, we were often seen as the ones slowing down trade negotiations,” Jaishankar noted. “Today, the urgency is coming from our side. We’re clearly signaling our readiness.”
This shift in tone comes shortly after US President Donald Trump announced a temporary 90-day pause on imposing reciprocal tariffs. India and the US have tentatively agreed to finalize a bilateral trade pact by September or October this year. “We will find a formula that works for both sides,” Jaishankar added.
The comments come amid rising global tensions, particularly the ongoing tariff disputes between the US and China. Jaishankar warned that the world is heading toward a period of deep economic instability, and India must act decisively to protect its interests.
The minister also touched upon the broader geopolitical landscape, stating that the US has fundamentally changed its global engagement strategy, with implications across various sectors. “We had four years of dialogue during the previous Trump administration. They have their views about us, and we certainly have ours,” he said candidly.
A recent US delegation, led by Assistant Trade Representative Brendan Lynch, visited Delhi in late March to iron out details of the proposed trade agreement.
On the European front, Jaishankar addressed the slow progress of trade talks with the EU. “It’s a myth that we’ve been negotiating for 30 years non-stop. There were long stretches where talks were completely dormant,” he clarified.
He also highlighted the role of technology in geopolitics, saying that countries like Japan, South Korea, and China are leveraging tech as a pathway to reclaim strategic prominence. “Japan in particular, and to some extent South Korea, are making a comeback through technology,” he observed.
India, Jaishankar added, is making significant headway in building Digital Public Infrastructure and is prioritizing semiconductor development as part of its tech-forward approach.
At the summit, co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs and Carnegie India, Jaishankar projected a confident image of India’s technological ambitions on the global stage. “We’re in a strong position to showcase a positive and progressive technological identity to the
world,” he concluded.
