India, US trade talks progressing very smoothly, says Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal

US, India have expressed hope of trade deal very soon, days after it was announced that both sides were in talks to chalk out an agreement.

"We are progressing very smoothly" Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said, and added "we sit down in a comfortable and very open-minded way...so it more a question of scheduling time but I don't see any big issue holding it back for any reason"

US Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross on trade said, "neither government said there will be trade deal in five minutes..we both know each other's issues. Now that the election has come and gone, PM Modi has a very clear strong position in the parliament it should be a lot easier to take decisive action"

Ross said Washington is only concerned on trade deficit arising from the protectionist barrier. US President has been vocal about trade issues globally including with India, calling New Delhi as "Tariff King" due to high tariff imposed by the country on America goods.

Ross is in Delhi to meet Goyal which the former described will be "frank and mature discussions"

Asked if New Delhi is being dealt unfairly by Washington, Ross said, "President Trump has gone out of his way to have a good relationship with PM Modi. Whole Howdy Modi event is unprecedented in the entire history of the US. Never has the US sitting President had such a big public event with a foreign leader with any country."

Adding, "If there is any doubt, it was a very conscious and overt act to send a clear message to both the Indian American community and to the Indian community. This is a qualitatively different relationship wich previously never existed between India and US and all of our discussions are conducted within that frame of reference" 

Indian PM Modi and US President Donald Trump met twice last week, first in Houston during the big diaspora event, Howdy, Modi! and then in New York for a bilateral meet with focus on trade and counter-terrorism.