New Delhi, June 11 -- External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has said that the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led Union government is 'hopeful' of reaching an agreement on a trade deal with the United States before the tariff suspension ends on 9 July.

"The threat of reciprocal tariffs was raised on April 2, but we had already begun bilateral negotiations for a trade agreement," Jaishankar said in an interview with French daily Le Figaro.

The Minister is on an official visit to Belgium and France until 14 June.

"Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi was hosted by (US President) Donald Trump in February, and they agreed to expand access to each other's markets. We are hopeful of reaching an agreement before the tariff suspension ends on July 9,"...