'Negotiating deals with several countries': Piyush Goyal on India's trade talks; dismisses Trump's 'dead economy' remark
NEW DELHI: Union minister
Piyush Goyal
on Friday said India is in talks to sign trade agreements with several countries including the United States.
'We are in dialogue with many countries — Oman, the European Union, the US, Chile, Peru, New Zealand.
Many others want to start engaging with us,' news agency PTI quoted him as saying at the BT India @100 event in the national capital.
"So today the world recognises our strengths, recognises our demographic advantages... 1.4 billion people bring aggregate demand, huge domestic market... why else do you think everybody is vying to do trade or have a better market access?" he added.
India and the United States have been negotiating a bilateral trade agreement since March, with the next round of talks scheduled during a US delegation's visit from August 25.
The upcoming discussions will be held against the backdrop of US President Donald Trump's decision to impose 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods — half of which took effect on August 7, with the remaining 25 per cent to be implemented from August 27.
Asked how New Delhi would respond to the current global trade order and Washington's penal tariffs, Goyal replied, 'I do not see any de-globalisation. I see nations restructuring their trade routes and partners, and I am quite confident that this year we will export more than last year.'
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Dismissing US President Donald Trump's 'dead economy' remark, the BJP leader asserted, 'The whole world recognises us as the fastest-growing large economy. We are contributing 16 per cent to global growth, our inflation is among the lowest in the world compared to other emerging market economies… our macroeconomic fundamentals are the best. India today is stronger, much more confident, and much more respected.
'
The minister also exuded confidence that the country's exports in 2025-26 would surpass last year's figures of $ 825 billion.
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