New Delhi, March 7 -- US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick on Friday expressed optimism about India-US trade ties, emphasizing the need for India's agricultural trade to open up amid US President Donald Trump's plans to impose reciprocal tariffs on US trading partners, including India.

Speaking virtually at the India Today Conclave, Lutnick acknowledged that finding a mutually beneficial solution would require understanding and cooperation from both sides.

He said India's agricultural trade cannot just remain closed, and suggested that it can be smarter while dealing with the most "important trading partner" US on the other side of the table.

"The Indian market for agriculture, it has to open up," the US Commerce Secretary said at the ...