Bloomberg reported, citing Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.

These remarks indicate that key issues remain unresolved, despite both countries agreeing on the initial framework for a deal and expressing optimism about its completion.

According to the Indian news agency ANI, India does not plan to implement the agreement until it secures a competitive tariff advantage over rival exporting countries.

"The question that remains open is whether our tariffs should be lower than those of competing countries," Goyal said at a press briefing.

"Once that is resolved, the trade agreement will be implemented," he added.

Goyal also said that the outline of the pact had been agreed upon before the US Supreme Court ruled in February that President Donald Trump's previous tariff policies were unlawful.

These comments came several weeks after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France.

Both leaders expressed optimism during the meeting and noted progress in trade negotiations.

Trump stated at the time that Washington and New Delhi were "very close" to reaching an agreement.

Despite repeated signals from officials in both countries that a deal was achievable, negotiations are taking longer than expected.

Discussions are complicated by disagreements over tariffs, market access, and protections for politically sensitive industries.

India is also seeking guarantees against future trade investigations and tariff measures from the US—issues that remain part of the broader negotiations.

The proposed agreement is seen as a key step in strengthening economic ties between the world's largest democracies, as well as a way to diversify supply chains and expand bilateral trade.

For now, officials appear focused on resolving remaining tariff disagreements before the deal can move into the implementation phase.