India and the US returned to the negotiating table in New Delhi on Monday, Sept 28. The trade talks raise hopes of a breakthrough after the tariff escalation in August. Assistant USTR for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch leads the American side, according to LiveMint.

In August, Trump slapped a punitive 25 per cent levy on India, taking overall tariffs to 50 per cent. It was linked to pressure on Moscow over Ukraine. India’s exports to the US fell to 6.86 billion dollars in August from 8.01 billion in July, according to trade ministry data cited by LiveMint.

Sources differ on the Indian lead negotiator and the round’s length. LiveMint, citing Reuters, names a senior Commerce Ministry official as India’s lead. An agency report names Darpan Jain, Additional Secretary. Reports differ on whether the round lasts one day or four days.

India has resisted opening its agricultural and dairy sectors, calling them red lines. Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal said on Sept 11 that the talks are progressing to the satisfaction of both sides.

The talks matter for a trade deal both sides want. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro said Monday that India was ‘coming to the negotiating table.’