NEW DELHI, March 29 (Reuters) - Indian and U.S.

officials made progress towards a bilateral trade agreement

during several days of talks in New Delhi, they said on

Saturday.

The negotiations, led by officials from India's commerce

ministry and a U.S. trade delegation headed by Brendan Lynch,

assistant U.S. trade representative for South and Central Asia,

were held from March 26-29.

The talks come as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares to

impose reciprocal tariffs on multiple trading partners from

April 2, with India hoping for an exemption amid the bilateral

talks. Both countries aim to sign the first tranche of a

bilateral trade deal by the fall this year.

"The successful conclusion of the discussions reflects

progress in efforts to expand India-U.S. bilateral trade and

investment relations to promote prosperity, security and

innovation in both countries," a joint statement said.

Last month, during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to

Washington, India pledged to boost purchases of U.S. energy

products and defence equipment, and the two sides agreed to aim

for a deal targeting bilateral trade of $500 billion by 2030.

Trump has called India a "tariff king", with the U.S.

seeking India to reduce tariffs on products ranging from

agricultural goods and alcoholic beverages to automobiles, and

greater market access for U.S. companies.

Piyush Goyal, India's trade minister, visited Washington

earlier this month for talks with U.S. Trade Representative

Jamieson Greer and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.

Sector-specific expert engagements for the bilateral trade

agreement will begin virtually in the coming weeks, followed by

an in-person negotiating round, the joint statement said.

The U.S. currently has a $45.6 billion trade deficit with

India. While the U.S. trade-weighted average tariff rate stands

at about 2.2%, India's average tariff is significantly higher at

12%, according to World Trade Organization data.