Ambani to Meet Trump as India-US Trade Talks Hit Stalemate
- Mukesh Ambani is set to meet US President Donald Trump on September 12 to discuss India-US trade, with Ivanka Trump expected to facilitate talks.
- Disagreements continue over US demands for greater access to Indian markets for farm products and lower tariffs on medical and tech goods.
- Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal aims to finalize a bilateral trade deal with the US by November, while India also progresses with deals with the EU, China, and other countries.
Even as India and the United States remain at a standstill over trade issues, Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump on September 12, according to Business World. Reports suggest that Ivanka Trump may play a key role in facilitating discussions that could move the countries closer to a trade agreement.
Sources cited by Business World noted that Ambani’s long-standing connections with both Republican and Democratic leaders give him a strategic edge over rival industrialist Gautam Adani in influencing trade discussions. Observers also highlighted the Ambani family’s high-profile wedding, attended by several US policymakers, as a sign of the family’s wide business and political reach.
The trade impasse continues, with disagreements over Washington’s demand for wider access to the Indian market for American farm products, including dairy, pork, poultry, soybeans, and almonds. The US is also pushing for lower tariffs on goods like medical equipment, ICT products, and stents.
Adding to tensions, President Trump has repeatedly claimed credit for stopping a potential military conflict between India and Pakistan in May 2025.
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on September 3 that India aims to finalize a bilateral trade deal with the US by November. He added that trade talks with the European Union are progressing, and relations with China are improving as border tensions ease. Reuters reports that India has already concluded trade agreements with Mauritius, Australia, EFTA, the UK, and the UAE.
Ambani’s upcoming meeting with President Trump is seen as a key moment in shaping the next steps for India-US trade relations, with both sides under pressure to reach a mutually beneficial deal.
