Talks without pressure
India is ready for an India-US trade deal, but Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has made it clear that New Delhi will not work under deadlines. He explained that trade talks must focus on fairness and long-term benefit, not rushed timelines.
“We do not set deadlines for trade agreements,” Goyal told industry leaders. “Our priority is to create fair and mutually beneficial deals.”
The minister confirmed that both countries are in active talks on a bilateral trade agreement (BTA). Five rounds have already taken place since March, but the sixth round, planned for late August, was delayed after Washington raised duties on Indian exports by 50 per cent. Fresh dates for the next round have not yet been fixed.
India’s renewable energy success
At the same event, Goyal highlighted India’s achievements in renewable energy. He said the country now offers uninterrupted clean power at the lowest cost worldwide.
India can supply 24-hour renewable energy for about ₹4.60 to ₹5 per unit, he said. “Nowhere else in the world is power available at this price.”
Goyal recalled the situation in 2014 when power shortages and high tariffs were common. At the time, parts of the country paid as much as ₹12–13 per unit. The creation of a national grid and expansion of renewable energy capacity have since cut costs dramatically.
Rapid growth in renewables
The minister credited Prime Minister Modi’s government for scaling up the solar programme from 20 gigawatts to 100 gigawatts soon after taking office. Transparent bidding and fair competition pushed solar tariffs down from ₹7–8 per unit to just over ₹2.
“India has become a global leader in renewable energy,” Goyal said. “We upscaled our renewable programme five times and achieved it on time.”
He added that strengthening transmission networks made it possible to integrate both solar and wind power smoothly into the grid, ensuring reliable supply nationwide.
