Senior US and Indian officials hinted that trade agreement negotiations between the two countries are at an impasse, making it more difficult to reach an agreement. India's Finance Minister Nirmala Hitaraman said on Monday that negotiations “have entered a platform period” and moving forward, it will be very difficult to reach a compromise. On Friday, US Trade Representative Jamison Greer said trade negotiations are in the final stages, but an agreement is not “imminent.” The two sides have continued discussions on economic and trade issues since reaching an interim agreement earlier this year. Indian officials are seeking assurances from the US that the country will receive more favorable tariff rates than other countries and that it will not face additional punitive measures after the trade agreement is signed. Hitaraman said at the Munich Security Conference on Monday that trade negotiations have always been difficult and rigorous. “We would like to believe that the two sides have reached a platform period, and moving forward, whether they make concessions or obtain concessions, it will probably be very, very difficult.”

Senior US and Indian officials hinted that trade agreement negotiations between the two countries are at an impasse, making it more difficult to reach an agreement. India's Finance Minister Nirmala Hitaraman said on Monday that negotiations “have entered a platform period” and moving forward, it will be very difficult to reach a compromise. On Friday, US Trade Representative Jamison Greer said trade negotiations are in the final stages, but an agreement is not “imminent.” The two sides have continued discussions on economic and trade issues since reaching an interim agreement earlier this year. Indian officials are seeking assurances from the US that the country will receive more favorable tariff rates than other countries and that it will not face additional punitive measures after the trade agreement is signed. Hitaraman said at the Munich Security Conference on Monday that trade negotiations have always been difficult and rigorous. “We would like to believe that the two sides have reached a platform period, and moving forward, whether they make concessions or obtain concessions, it will probably be very, very difficult.”