Sitharaman said that, at this stage, it had become very difficult for both sides to make further demands or offer new concessions. The talks, however, have not been suspended and remain ongoing.
The assessment points to a period of limited progress in the talks between New Delhi and Washington. Available sources describe negotiations that are still active, but with little room to modify the respective positions.
According to a report by the Times of India, unresolved issues include the United States’ trade imbalance vis-à-vis India and tariffs affecting agricultural imports and energy purchases from the United States.
The tariff situation was described by The Hindu in reporting Sitharaman’s remarks: the minister reportedly spoke of the United States’ «instrumentalized» use of tariffs in the context of tensions over the trade imbalance. This characterization remains attributed to the minister in the available information.
There is also no indication of an imminent agreement on the U.S. side. The Hindustan Times reported that Jamieson Greer, the United States trade representative, said that an agreement was not imminent.
The reported statements therefore confirm that differences over specific demands, concessions and trade issues still need to be bridged, without indicating a new deadline for concluding the agreement.
The reports containing Sitharaman’s assessment were published around October 5, 2026. The available information does not specify where the minister made her remarks or indicate an updated schedule for the negotiations.