Piyush Goyal entered Milwaukee’s conference centre on Wednesday, ready to press India’s hand at the G20 trade ministers’ meeting. He will sit across from US Trade Representative Katherine Tai, whose office has imposed 10‑12.5% extra duties on more than 50 countries for failing to curb forced‑labour use.
Tai said the tariffs are “a necessary deterrent” and that the United States will consider lifting them if India demonstrates robust enforcement. The Indian side has pledged to tighten inspections at ports and factories, a move that could strip the US from its punitive stance.
Meanwhile, the second Section 301 probe into India’s structural over‑capacity remains unresolved. Analysts note that the probe’s findings could influence the shape of any new trade framework, especially in sectors like textiles and IT services.
Beyond the bilateral talks, Goyal will meet CEOs of major U.S. firms in Chicago, hoping to secure investment guarantees and technology transfers that could offset tariff costs. The G20 session is expected to conclude on Thursday with a joint statement that will outline the next steps for both sides.