DEAL ON MEDICAL DEVICES, FARM PRODUCTS LIKELY IN TRUMP VISIT
NEW DELHI: India and the US are finalising a limited trade package, centred around medical devices and agricultural products, that is expected to be unveiled during President Donald Trump’s visit in the third week of this month, people familiar with development said on Tuesday.
The final touches will be given to the package when US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer visits New Delhi early next week for talks with Indian interlocutors, including commerce minister Piyush Goyal, the people added on condition of anonymity.
One of the highlights of the visit is expected to be a public event featuring Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, though there is a question mark on whether the United S tates president will travel to locations other than New Delhi during his short visit, said the people who declined to be identified.
As reported earlier by HT, Trump is set to visit India sometime between February 21 and February 24. Over the past few weeks, both sides have been busy hammering out the trade package so that it can be presented as a tangible outcome of the visit.
“The trade package will centre around medical devices such as stents and agricultural products,” said a person familiar with planning for the visit. India and the US have sparred over the pricing of medical devices and access to US agricultural imports.
The negotiations are going well and some mutual understanding is expected before the visit, two Indian officials from two different ministries said on condition of anonymity.