India and the United States appear to be finding common ground in long-stalled trade negotiations, with sources calling the latest talks in New York encouraging. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal and India’s chief trade negotiator Rajesh Agarwal met with U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer to restart discussions on a pending agreement. According to officials, both delegations expressed commitment to moving past earlier setbacks and accelerating progress.

The talks had been frozen for months after Washington imposed a steep 25 percent tariff on Indian crude imports from Russia, raising the overall duty on Indian exports to 50 percent. The sixth round of negotiations, scheduled for late August, was postponed amid these tensions. However, a U.S. Trade Representative team’s visit to New Delhi earlier this month paved the way for renewed discussions.

Officials familiar with the talks said that if momentum continues, a Quad summit could take place before the end of the year. Sources within the U.S. administration hinted that the State Department has already begun preparing for a potential visit by President Donald Trump to India. Trade remains the most challenging issue, particularly tariffs and the rising cost of H-1B visas, but Washington signaled a more conciliatory tone. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio told NBC that America hopes to resolve trade friction with India while still urging Europe to toughen sanctions against Russia.

On the sidelines of the United Nations General Assembly, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also met Rubio to reinforce the broader strategic partnership shaping these negotiations. With both sides signaling flexibility, the outcome of these talks could not only reshape trade dynamics but also pave the way for deeper cooperation in the Indo-Pacific through a possible Quad leaders’ summit.