New Delhi, October 20, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
A potential trade agreement between India and the United States could significantly expand bilateral commerce, although differences across a wide range of issues may prolong negotiations, Trade and Economic Council (TCC) President John Kavulich said on Tuesday.
Speaking to IANS, Kavulich said both countries had indicated that they were moving closer to a deal, but their diplomatic statements offered limited clarity on the actual progress made in negotiations.
“Both countries are signalling that they are close to each other, but they are speaking in diplomatic language,” he said.
Kavulich noted that it remained uncertain whether the two sides had resolved their major differences or were considering setting aside contentious issues to reach agreements in other areas.
He said a trade deal was important for both countries, given the scale of their economic relationship and the potential to expand bilateral trade, which is already worth hundreds of billions of dollars.
However, he cautioned that the wide range of issues involved could make a comprehensive agreement difficult to conclude quickly. While negotiations may appear to progress smoothly at a broad level, reaching consensus on individual provisions can prove much more challenging as discussions move into the finer details.
“It is difficult to say whether they will be able to agree on everything,” Kavulich said, underlining the complexity of negotiations between the two economies.
Commenting on India’s imports of Russian oil, Kavulich said the issue had become politically sensitive, particularly because Indian companies purchase Russian crude, refine and process it, and in some cases export the resulting products to other markets.
He pointed out that the issue carries different political implications for US President Donald Trump, members of the US Congress, other American political figures, non-governmental organisations, Ukraine and the European Union.
Although India’s purchases of Russian oil may attract criticism from these groups, energy affordability remains an important consideration for countries and businesses, he said.
Kavulich added that consumers and economies require energy and generally prefer to obtain it from the least expensive available sources.
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