New Delhi: Amid speculation over the future of the proposed India-US trade agreement, Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal has firmly denied reports suggesting that negotiations have hit a deadlock, asserting that discussions between the two countries are progressing smoothly and remain focused on delivering a balanced trade pact.

Calling recent reports "completely false, baseless and misleading", Goyal said both India and the United States continue to work closely towards a commercially meaningful agreement that benefits businesses, farmers, workers and consumers in both countries.

The minister's clarification comes as questions emerged over whether India was delaying the negotiations in search of a more favourable deal. Dismissing such claims, Goyal said the engagement between the two sides has remained constructive, highlighting his discussions with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer during the latter's visit to New Delhi in June.

According to Goyal, both governments reaffirmed their shared commitment to concluding a mutually beneficial trade agreement rather than rushing into an arrangement that does not serve long-term interests.

"Our teams remain fully engaged in achieving this objective," he said in a post on X, highlighting that negotiations continue without interruption.

The Centre's position was echoed by Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal, who also rejected suggestions that the negotiations were facing obstacles.

Addressing reporters while releasing India's trade figures for June 2026, Agarwal said there were no major challenges affecting the bilateral trade discussions and that negotiations were continuing within the agreed framework.

He outlined the recent exchanges between the two countries, noting that an Indian delegation visited the United States in May, followed by a US delegation travelling to India in June, with discussions continuing through established negotiation channels.

Referring to the wider global trade environment, Agarwal acknowledged that tariff actions by the United States have created uncertainty for several trading partners. However, he said India remains actively engaged in consultations with the US as parallel trade-related discussions continue.

Despite changing global trade dynamics, he maintained that negotiations between New Delhi and Washington have remained positive, with both governments expressing confidence in the direction of the talks.

Agarwal further revealed that the broad framework for the proposed India-US trade agreement has already been prepared. According to him, the two sides are now waiting for the appropriate time to formally conclude and sign the pact, while discussions continue to refine its structure.

With ANI inputs