India is prepared to place aircraft orders worth up to $80 billion with Boeing, following the announcement of a new trade framework between New Delhi and Washington, according to India’s Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal.
Speaking on Thursday, Goyal said India’s demand for Boeing aircraft alone, orders yet to be formally placed, could reach nearly $80 billion. He added that once engines, spare parts, and related equipment are included, aircraft-related imports from the United States could exceed $100 billion.
The comments signal India’s willingness to deepen commercial ties with the U.S. after President Donald Trump announced earlier this week that the two countries had reached a trade agreement in principle.
Broader trade ambitions
Goyal said India has the potential to procure a minimum of $500 billion worth of goods from the U.S. over the next five years, though he clarified that no binding investment commitments have been made as part of the current arrangement.
Trump has claimed the agreement would see the U.S. lower tariffs on Indian goods to 18%, while India would reduce duties on American goods and significantly expand purchases from the U.S., including in energy and agriculture. Indian officials, however, have not confirmed several of these details.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed the proposed tariff reductions but stopped short of endorsing other claims made by Washington.
Timeline and political response
According to Goyal, India and the U.S. are expected to sign a joint statement within the next three to four days, formalising the first phase of the agreement. A more detailed trade pact is expected to be signed by mid-March.
The announcement has sparked political debate at home. Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi criticised the government, accusing it of conceding too much on tariffs. The Indian government has said negotiations are ongoing and subject to further review.
Economists have cautioned that while India is likely to increase imports from the U.S., the $500 billion target may prove difficult to achieve, given India’s total goods imports stood at about $720 billion in the last financial year.
