Bessent says US may clinch first trade deal with India
File photo of Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent speaks with reporters outside the White House, Monday, April 28, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)
WASHINGTON: One of the first US trade agreements may be with India, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said on Monday.
"I would guess that India would be one of the first trade deals we would sign," Bessent told CNBC, reported Sputnik/RIA Novosti.
He recalled that US Vice President JD Vance visited India last week and talked about substantial progress in the talks.
Bessent also pointed out that the US has very good negotiations with other partners in Asia.
"I have mentioned that the negotiations with the Republic of Korea have gone very well, and I think we've had some very substantial negotiations with our Japanese allies," he added.
Vance said on Tuesday that the US and India had finalised the terms of reference for the trade negotiations, adding that very good progress had been made during his talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Vance also said that in February, US President Donald Trump and Modi announced plans to more than double bilateral trade to $500 billion by the end of the decade.
--BERNAMA-SPUTNIK/RIA NOVOSTI
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