India-US trade talks 'reached a plateau', compromise difficult: FM Sitharaman

India-US trade deal talks have "reached a plateau" beyond which compromise could be difficult, Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman said on Monday.

"Both sides have reached a plateau beyond which giving or taking might be very, very difficult," Sitharaman said while speaking at the Munich Security Conference. "Maybe if there are rooms to operate from, both sides would do it."

On Friday, United States Trade Representative Jamieson Greer said that the trade deal was in its final stages, but was not "imminent".

India and the US agreed to an interim trade deal earlier this year and have since been negotiating a broader agreement.

Bloomberg reported that Indian officials have sought assurances from Washington that India would receive a favourable tariff rate compared with its peers. They have also sought assurances that India would not face additional penalties after the trade deal is signed.

The talks have also faced another complication: a new US law allows President Donald Trump to impose tariffs of up to 100% on countries that are major buyers of Russian oil and gas.

India is a major importer of Russian energy. New Delhi has warned that such measures could hurt bilateral ties with the US and disrupt global energy markets.