India’s US trade deal at risk without fast-track authority: GTRI

Subscribe to enjoy similar stories. NEW DELHI : India is advancing negotiations on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the US—what would typically be called a free trade agreement (FTA)—but a critical gap in Washington’s trade framework threatens to complicate the deal. Unlike past trade agreements, any pact India finalizes could face prolonged scrutiny and potential amendments by US lawmakers, as the country currently lacks Fast Track Trade Authority (FTTA)—a mechanism that allows the US president to negotiate trade deals and present them for a simple up-or-down vote in Congress.

Without it, any agreement is vulnerable to political wrangling, delays, or even rejection. The concerns were outlined in a Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) report released Tuesday, just as a US delegation led by assistant trade representative Brendan Lynch arrived in New Delhi for talks. The delegation, in India until 29 March, is set to meet India’s chief trade negotiator Rajesh Aggarwal and key government ministers.

“Partner countries are required to alter domestic laws, regulations, and administrative procedures in line with US interpretations of the agreement, often after signing," said Ajay Srivastava, a former Indian Trade Service officer. This effectively enables Washington to renegotiate key provisions at will, leaving trade partners vulnerable to shifting demands." For India, this creates an uncertain playing field, as there is no guarantee that the final agreement will be honoured in its original form, the GTRI report noted. A spokesperson for India’s commerce ministry did not respond to a request for comment.