Piyush Goyal invites US manufacturers to partner India, co-invest in supply chains
Synopsis
Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal's Milwaukee visit is more than a routine roundtable — it is a high-stakes push to convert India's supply-chain pitch into concrete US manufacturing partnerships, just as both sides race to finalise an interim Bilateral Trade Agreement anchored in a February 2026 joint statement.
Key Takeaways
Piyush Goyal addressed a National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) roundtable in Milwaukee on 30 September 2026 .
He invited American manufacturers to partner with Indian SMEs and co-invest in advanced manufacturing for resilient supply chains.
Goyal's meeting with USTR Jamieson Greer is seen as key to finalising an interim Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) .
Both sides are working toward an interim deal in line with the India-US joint statement of 7 February 2026 .
India is set to attend the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Milwaukee and advocate for a WTO -centred global trade framework.
Bilateral meetings in Milwaukee and Chicago will cover manufacturing, agribusiness, retail, technology, and MSME opportunities.
Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, addressed a business roundtable convened by the National Association of Manufacturers (NAM) in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, bringing together representatives of small and large manufacturers from across the United States. The minister used the platform to formally invite American manufacturers to deepen their presence in India, partner with Indian small and medium enterprises (SMEs), and co-invest in advanced manufacturing to build resilient, mutually beneficial supply chains.
What Goyal Said at the NAM Roundtable
According to his post on X, Goyal highlighted the strong momentum in India-US economic ties, India's expanding industrial base, and the country's skilled workforce as key attractions for American manufacturers. He urged US companies to view India not merely as a market but as a co-production and supply-chain partner capable of delivering long-term value for both economies.
BTA Negotiations and the USTR Meeting
Goyal's visit comes at a critical juncture for India-US trade diplomacy. His upcoming engagement with US Trade Representative (USTR) Jamieson Greer is widely seen as pivotal to accelerating negotiations on a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) — described by both sides as 'balanced and mutually beneficial.' According to an official statement, the two sides are working toward finalising an interim trade deal in line with the joint statement issued on 7 February 2026 by India and the United States.
G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Milwaukee
The minister is set to attend the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Milwaukee at the invitation of the USTR. India is expected to advocate for a rules-based, open, inclusive, transparent, equitable, and non-discriminatory global trading framework, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core — a position that reflects New Delhi's broader stance in multilateral trade forums.
Bilateral Engagements and Industry Outreach
Beyond official meetings, Goyal is scheduled to hold a series of bilateral engagements in Milwaukee and Chicago, with senior executives from leading American companies spanning manufacturing, consumer goods, agribusiness, retail, and technology. The discussions are expected to focus on creating greater opportunities for Indian farmers, fishermen, women entrepreneurs, startups, and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This comprehensive outreach signals that the visit is as much about economic inclusion at home as it is about attracting foreign capital. This comes amid a broader global realignment of supply chains away from single-country dependencies — a shift that India has been actively positioning itself to capitalise on since at least 2020.
Point of View
And the structural sticking points — tariff asymmetries, digital trade rules, agricultural market access — have not disappeared. The real test of this roundtable is not the applause it generates but whether it moves the needle on the USTR talks scheduled alongside it.
NationPress
30 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Piyush Goyal say at the NAM roundtable in Milwaukee?
Goyal invited American manufacturers to explore opportunities in India, partner with Indian SMEs, and co-invest in advanced manufacturing to build resilient supply chains. He highlighted India's expanding industrial base and skilled workforce as key attractions for US companies.
What is the India-US Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) and where do talks stand?
The BTA is a proposed balanced and mutually beneficial trade deal between India and the United States. Both sides are working toward finalising an interim agreement in line with their joint statement of 7 February 2026, with Goyal's meeting with USTR Jamieson Greer seen as a key step toward accelerating negotiations.
What is the significance of Goyal's meeting with USTR Jamieson Greer?
The meeting is viewed as pivotal to speeding up the Bilateral Trade Agreement negotiations. It comes on the sidelines of the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting in Milwaukee and follows months of incremental progress since the February 2026 India-US joint statement.
Which sectors will Goyal discuss with American business leaders?
Goyal is scheduled to meet senior executives of US companies in manufacturing, consumer goods, agribusiness, retail, and technology during his visits to Milwaukee and Chicago. The talks are also expected to address opportunities for Indian farmers, women entrepreneurs, startups, and MSMEs.
What is India's position at the G20 Trade Ministers' Meeting?
India is expected to advocate for a rules-based, open, inclusive, transparent, equitable, and non-discriminatory global trading framework with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core — consistent with New Delhi's longstanding stance in multilateral trade forums.
