India to finalise dates for trade policy forum meet with US

India is finalising dates for the trade policy forum (TPF) with the US, in which issues such as visa and greater market access for goods are expected to be taken up. The US authorities have sought fixing of the date for the meeting, Union minister Nirmala Sitharaman said. Sitharaman, who held the commerce and industry portfolio before being named the defence minister in Sunday's Cabinet reshuffle, said: "We will have to talk with the US on trade policy-related matters. We will definitely give the dates and are discussing that." After the US President Donald Trump’s administration took power, this will be the first formal interaction between trade authorities. The last meeting was held in October. The forum was set up in 2005 and the meeting is co- chaired by the Indian commerce minister and the US Trade Representative (USTR), with an aim to expand bilateral trade and investment.