India says US trade deal is "almost done", a test for Egypt's edge with American apparel buyers

India's Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal said on 24 September that the trade agreement between India and the United States is "almost done and dusted," on condition that it secures competitive tariff treatment for Indian exporters, Fibre2Fashion reported.

Goyal was speaking at an event organised by the Public Affairs Forum of India in New Delhi. The two countries agreed the framework of a first-phase bilateral trade agreement in February 2026, covering market access, tariff and non-tariff barriers, digital trade and supply-chain resilience.

Talks moving to Milwaukee

Goyal is scheduled to visit the United States on 30 September and 1 October for the G20 Trade Ministerial in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where bilateral talks with US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer are expected.

The negotiations come against a tense background. On 18 September, US President Donald Trump signed legislation allowing tariffs of up to 100% on countries that buy Russian energy, a measure that Indian exporters see as a risk given India's purchases of Russian oil.

What it means for Egyptian exporters

India is one of the largest suppliers of cotton apparel and home textiles to the United States, the biggest single market for Egyptian garments. A deal that lowers or stabilises tariffs on Indian goods would make India a stronger competitor for the same American programmes Egyptian QIZ factories bid for, especially in cotton knitwear, towels and bed linen. If talks stall and higher tariffs linked to Russian energy purchases are applied, some US orders could move towards alternative suppliers, including Egypt. Egyptian exporters to the US should watch the outcome of the Milwaukee talks closely and keep buyers informed of their duty-free QIZ position.