India’s Global Trade Momentum: A New Urgency in Talks with US and EU

Can India finally fast-track its long-awaited trade agreements with the US and EU? External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar’s recent remarks suggest that the country is on a mission — and this time, it’s serious.

In a world reeling from shifting alliances, protectionist waves, and rapidly evolving technology landscapes, India is stepping into global trade conversations with renewed energy — and a ticking clock.

India’s Global Trade Momentum

At the Global Technology Summit held recently, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar made a compelling case for why India is pressing the pedal harder on trade negotiations, especially with two of its most significant partners: the United States and the European Union.

This isn’t the old India, cautiously weighing its options and tiptoeing around trade deals. This is a more confident, assertive India — one that’s ready to negotiate, finalize, and push ahead.

“It’s Not an Open-Ended Process Anymore”

Trade negotiations are often synonymous with red tape, prolonged discussions, and never-ending drafts. But Jaishankar’s statement was clear — the era of dragging feet is over.

Speaking at the summit, he pointed out that India’s approach to trade diplomacy has undergone a clear shift. “We have conceptually an agreement that we will do a bilateral trade agreement; that we will find a fix that will work for both of us… it’s not an open-ended process,” he said.

This statement reflects a strategic change in how India is viewing global trade — not just as economic diplomacy but as a vital component of its geopolitical playbook.

A Nod to the Trump Administration’s Responsiveness

Jaishankar also offered an unexpected appreciation of the Trump administration, noting how it had shown readiness and speed in responding to India's trade proposals.

“Within a month of change in the administration, we had conceptually an agreement,” he noted, indicating that the desire for a deal wasn’t one-sided. Despite this early traction, the final agreement didn’t materialize in Trump’s first term.

“We did four years of talking with the first Trump administration. They have their view of us and frankly, we have our view of them. The bottom line is that the deal did not get through,” Jaishankar admitted candidly.

This transparency reveals how tough, layered, and politically entangled trade talks can be — and how both sides often have to walk a tightrope of domestic pressures and international expectations.

The EU Trade Talks: A 23-Year Wait for Momentum

If the US trade story has been slow, the India-EU trade tale has been a marathon. It’s one of the oldest negotiations India has been part of, with talks stretching across more than two decades.

“People often say we've been negotiating for 23 years, which is not entirely true,” Jaishankar clarified. “We had big blocks of time when nobody was even talking to somebody else.”

Still, the implication was clear: this time around, things are different. “We are certainly geared up for a very high degree of urgency,” he added.

This renewed urgency comes at a time when the EU is also looking eastward for strategic partnerships beyond China, especially in the wake of pandemic-induced realignments and growing concerns over supply chain dependencies.

A Reversal of Roles: India Now Pushing Others to Speed Up

Interestingly, Jaishankar highlighted a refreshing reversal in global perceptions — that it was usually India slowing down the trade processes.

Not anymore.

“This was normally a complaint about us in the past — that we were slowing it down. It’s actually the other way around today,” he said with evident satisfaction.

Indian trade teams, he explained, are now “on top of their game” and “very ambitious about what they want to achieve.” The message? India isn’t dragging its feet anymore — it’s running the race and urging others to catch up.

The Bigger Picture: A Changing Global Trade Landscape

This new assertiveness isn’t happening in isolation. Jaishankar’s remarks come against the backdrop of significant global developments.

Former US President Donald Trump’s recent move to announce a 90-day pause on tariffs — excluding China — has reignited debates about trade strategies and fears of a global economic slowdown. And while the move may have had specific geopolitical motivations, it reflects the kind of unpredictable trade environment that nations like India are now navigating.

“The US under President Donald Trump has fundamentally changed its approach to engaging with the world,” Jaishankar remarked. “It has consequences across every key domain, especially in the technology sector.”

India, therefore, is making it clear — it can’t afford to be a bystander. Not in trade. Not in tech. Not anymore.

April 2 and Beyond: What Comes Next?

Perhaps the most significant part of Jaishankar’s address was his forward-looking optimism. “We see a window here,” he said, referring to ongoing trade talks with the US, EU, and the UK. “Our trade teams are really charged up. Now we have to see after April 2 how that picks up.”

April 2 could be a critical milestone, though it’s not yet clear what exactly the date signifies — a policy review, a negotiation round, or perhaps a decision node in India’s trade strategy.

Either way, India is preparing for it with a clear purpose.

What This Means for the Indian Startup Ecosystem

While the broader implications of these trade agreements are global, they hold particular significance for India’s booming startup ecosystem.

Faster trade deals mean easier access to international markets, smoother import-export norms, and fewer tariff-related shocks. For tech startups, especially those working in deeptech, AI, semiconductors, and green technologies, closer trade relations with the West could unlock new opportunities — from investments to partnerships and tech transfers.

In a startup ecosystem driven by scale, speed, and global ambition, trade clarity matters. And it seems India is finally ready to provide that.

S. Jaishankar’s message at the Global Technology Summit was loud and clear — India wants trade deals, and it wants them now.

In an increasingly fragmented world, where alliances are constantly being redrawn and tech competition is heating up, trade deals aren’t just about economics. They’re about positioning, trust, and influence.

India appears ready for that challenge.

The question is — are its partners ready to match its urgency?