India is more likely to ask the US to ease export controls and grant it entry to essential applied sciences on par with key American allies like Australia, the UK, and Japan beneath the proposed bilateral commerce settlement (BTA), sources stated.
They added that India could search these easing for sectors like telecom gear, biotechnology, AI (synthetic intelligence), prescribed drugs, quantum computing and semiconductors.
The nation can also be searching for responsibility concessions for labour-intensive sectors like textiles, gems and jewelry, leather-based items, clothes, plastics, chemical substances, shrimp, oil seeds, chemical substances, grapes and bananas within the proposed pact with America.
Alternatively, the US desires responsibility concessions in sectors like sure industrial items, cars (electrical automobiles significantly), wines, petrochemical merchandise, dairy, agriculture gadgets reminiscent of apples, and tree nuts, they stated.
As a part of the proposed BTA, one of many sources stated, India could request the US to position it on par with different key US allies together with Australia, UK and Japan relating to entry to expertise by way of easing of export controls significantly in key areas like telecom gear, biotechnology, and AI.
Easy accessibility to cutting-edge applied sciences in these sectors would assist enhance India’s innovation capabilities, improve its technological infrastructure, and additional push the nation’s financial progress.
The commerce ministry, which is main the negotiations for the settlement, declined to remark when requested about these points.
In line with suppose tank GTRI, the US has eased export controls to strengthen expertise partnerships with shut allies like Australia, the UK, and Japan. The modifications are designed to make collaboration simpler in essential sectors.
It stated that as a part of the AUKUS safety pact, the US has simplified guidelines for sharing defence and dual-use applied sciences with Australia and the UK. Starting September 1, 2024, about 80 per cent of defence-related exports to those international locations now not require particular person licences beneath revised US arms laws.
In September 2024, Washington additionally launched new international controls on exports associated to quantum computing and semiconductor manufacturing.
Nonetheless, trusted companions reminiscent of Australia, the UK, Japan, and different G7 nations are largely exempt from these new necessities, serving to hold analysis and commerce channels open, GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava stated.
On India’s request, he stated, whereas Washington is keen to strengthen tech ties with India, particularly beneath the Quad framework, it could cease wanting providing full parity.
“American officers may level to ongoing issues about India’s export controls, mental property protections, cybersecurity requirements, and army relationships with Russia. Somewhat than blanket exemptions, Washington could recommend mechanisms reminiscent of trusted accomplice programmes, project-specific licences, or expanded licensing exceptions for choose Indian entities,” Srivastava added.
The phrases of references (ToRs) have been finalised by India and the US for the proposed settlement, which embody round 19 chapters overlaying points reminiscent of tariffs, items, companies, guidelines of origin, non-tariff obstacles, and customs facilitation.
To present additional impetus to the talks within the 90-day tariff pause window, an Indian official staff was there in Washington to iron out variations on sure points earlier than formally launching negotiations for the pact.
The US remained India’s largest buying and selling accomplice for the fourth consecutive 12 months in 2024-25 with bilateral commerce valued at $131.84 billion. The US accounts for about 18 per cent of India’s whole items exports, 6.22 per cent in imports, and 10.73 per cent within the nation’s whole merchandise commerce.
With America, India had a commerce surplus (the distinction between imports and exports) of $41.18 billion in items in 2024-25. It was $35.32 billion in 2023-24, $27.7 billion in 2022-23, $32.85 billion in 2021-22 and $22.73 billion in 2020-21. The US has raised issues over this widening commerce deficit.
Printed on April 27, 2025
