A high-powered US delegation is slated to travel to India next week (File)
India and the US are understood to have resolved most of the important trade issues, thus paving the way for an ''initial trade package'' wherein the two countries are looking for an equitable market access.
The much-needed progress is believed to have been made during the meeting between the Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal and US Trade Representatives Robert Lighthizer in Washington DC on Wednesday.
The two leaders spoke over phone again on Thursday.
A high-powered US delegation is slated to travel to India next week to give a final shape to what is being described as an initial trade package which will eventually pave the way for a major trade pact between the two countries.
Trade issues started cropping up between the countries when the US imposed high customs duties on certain steel and aluminium products, which are affecting India''''s exports of these items to America.
The US had also rolled back export incentives for Indian exporters, under its Generalized System of Preferences (GSP) programme. India exports goods worth about USD 6 billion to America under the scheme.
In retaliation, India imposed high customs duties on 28 US products, including almonds.
Mr Goyal and Mr Lighthizer are believed to have had a constructive meeting in Washington on Wednesday, during which they covered a very wide range of issues that are on the table on the trade side.
A number of very important items that were on the table are understood to have been resolved and are reported to have been made part of the initial trade package that the two countries are working on.