New Delhi: Commerce and industry minister Piyush Goyal said on Sunday (July 28) that “it would be good” if India and the US finalise a trade agreement before August 1, but the priority of the Union government is to protect its national and public interests.While responding to a question about the August 1 deadline when the US’ reciprocal tariffs imposed on most countries, including India, are expected to come into force, Goyal said, “Koi deadline ke hisab se Bharat negotiate nahi karta (India doesn’t negotiate its trade agreements based on deadlines),” reported Economic Times.Speaking at an event in in Mumbai on the opportunities for exports in the UK market following the bilateral free trade agreement, Goyal said that the talks are going well with the US and India will do a good bilateral trade agreement (BTA) by October-November.“Our discussions with the United States are progressing very well. I am fully confident that by the October-November 2025 timeline, we will secure a good agreement,” said Goyal.Meanwhile, economic think tank Global Trade Research Initiative (GTRI) has said that India must proceed with caution in its trade talks with the US, and should draw lessons from countries such as Vietnam and Japan.The GTRI added on Sunday that a Japanese government document released on July 25 shows major gaps between Japan’s understanding of a new trade deal with the United States and how US President Donald Trump portrayed it just days earlier, reported Press Trust of India.“India should tread carefully as it negotiates its trade agreement with the United States, taking a cue from the experiences of countries like Vietnam and now Japan,” said GTRI Founder Ajay Srivastava.