Lynch, who leads US trade policy for South and Central Asia, arrives with a delegation to determine dates for the long-postponed sixth round of negotiations under the bilateral Trade Policy Forum.

On Tuesday, Lynch met Special Secretary of India’s Commerce Department, Rajesh Agarwal, and their respective teams in a high-level session focused on addressing tariff barriers and deepening sectoral cooperation. The two sides aim to finalize the sixth round, originally slated for August 25–29, which was deferred following the US’s decision to hike tariffs on Indian exports from 25% to 50%.

Lynch brings extensive experience in managing US trade relations with India and the broader South and Central Asian region. After earning his MBA from George Washington University, Lynch served as an International Trade Analyst at the United States International Trade Commission, conducting economic analysis of free trade agreements. In 2013, he joined the Office of Agricultural Affairs at the US Trade Representative (USTR), advancing American agricultural interests and leading bilateral dialogues with key partners including Taiwan, Israel, and several Caribbean nations.

From May 2016 to March 2018, Lynch directed USTR’s India office, overseeing bilateral trade relations during a critical phase of market liberalization. He later served as Deputy Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia before his appointment in March 2024 as Assistant USTR for the region, where he now manages trade policy engagement with 15 partner countries.

With US-India bilateral trade exceeding $140 billion in 2024, both governments recognize the urgency of resuming negotiations to secure market access, reduce non-tariff barriers, and enhance cooperation in sectors such as agriculture, infrastructure, services, and intellectual property. Today’s meeting sets the stage for the sixth negotiation round, underscoring a shared commitment to strengthening one of the world’s most dynamic trade relationships.