Talks between the US and India on a bilateral trade agreement, the first since 50% tariffs were imposed by Donald Trump, have been described by both sides as “positive”.

“Assistant US Trade Representative Brendan Lynch had a positive meeting in Delhi with his counterpart Ministry of Commerce and Industry Special Secretary Rajesh Agrawal on September 16 to discuss next steps in bilateral trade negotiations,” the US Embassy spokesperson said after the talks on Tuesday. 

A statement by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry soon after expressed a similar sentiment and said both countries have decided to ramp up efforts to arrive at a trade deal

“Acknowledging the enduring importance of bilateral trade between India and the US, the discussions were positive and forward-looking, covering various aspects of the trade deal. It was decided to intensify efforts to achieve early conclusion of a mutually beneficial Trade Agreement,” the ministry said.