India is preparing to finalize the trade agreement with the US, with a delegation scheduled to leave for Washington next week. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agarwal announced that the team's chief negotiator, Darpan Jain, will head the discussions to legally finalize the India-US trade deal. This trip is expected to commence on February 23, and there is potential for the deal to be signed in March.

Earlier this month, India and the US issued a joint statement announcing the framework for an interim trade agreement. Agarwal noted that while this statement outlines the deal, the legal agreements still need to be finalized and will come into effect post-signing. Currently, both teams are engaging in virtual discussions to iron out the details of the agreement.

Agarwal mentioned that while there is an aim to complete and sign the agreement by March, no specific deadlines have been imposed as finalizing the legal agreement is a complex process. The upcoming discussions in Washington are crucial for bridging negotiations and moving forward toward an official signing that could enhance trade relations between the two nations.