At the ET Startup Awards 2026 in Bengaluru on Friday, Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal told the crowd that negotiations with Washington are moving forward and that the parties are still ironing out the fine print.
U.S. Trade Representative James Greer had earlier cautioned that a deal was not imminent, while Foreign Minister Nirmala Sitharaman noted the talks had hit a plateau.
Goyal said that tightening H‑1B visa access would give Indian startups a competitive edge, turning every visa denial into a win for the domestic tech ecosystem.
He added that he had not raised immigration in his talks, but the flow of skilled workers is essential to service delivery, and that several U.S. firms have outlined plans to tap India’s talent pool, citing cost advantages.
The minister reiterated that the U.S. agreement will provide India with the comparative advantage agreed in February, and that final terms are still being negotiated, with a formal trade pact expected later this year.