New Delhi (30.09.2025): The Department of Commerce is set for a key leadership transition, with Rajesh Agarwal (IAS: 1994: MN) formally taking charge on Wednesday morning i.e. October 1, 2025 as the new Commerce Secretary, a move critical for maintaining policy momentum as India navigates complex global trade negotiations, especially with the United States.
Agarwal succeeds Sunil Barthwal (IAS: 1989: BH), who received the farewell as he superannuates today, September 30, 2025, after completing a full three-year tenure at the helm of the department.
Agarwal’s selection was pre-empted on April 18, 2025, when he was appointed as OSD in the Department of Commerce and designated as the next Commerce Secretary and simultaneously elevated in-situ as Special Secretary within the department—a clear signal of the government’s intent to ensure a smooth administrative handover.
The 1994-batch officer from the Manipur cadre has already been spearheading India’s trade talks and takes on the role at a challenging time marked by the protectionist stance of the US administration.
Front-and-Centre in US Trade Talks:
Agarwal's most immediate and critical priority will be to shepherd the ongoing negotiations for a Bilateral Trade Agreement (BTA) with the US. He was already the designated chief negotiator for the proposed pact and was recently in the spotlight, having engaged with his American counterpart, Assistant US Trade Representative for South and Central Asia Brendan Lynch, on September 16, 2025.
The discussions with the US have intensified in recent weeks, particularly after the Trump administration levied punitive tariffs on certain Indian goods, partly in response to India's oil imports from Russia. This makes the new Commerce Secretary’s job paramount in balancing national interests, particularly in sensitive sectors like agriculture and dairy, with the need for market access.
Agarwal is an experienced hand in trade policy, having previously served as Additional Secretary and been laterally shifted to the department from the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship. His predecessor, Sunil Barthwal, also followed a similar path, being first appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) before officially succeeding BVR Subrahmanyam (IAS: 1987: CG) as Commerce Secretary in 2022.
With his background and pre-emptive appointment, Rajesh Agarwal is expected to provide the required policy continuity to conclude the pending trade deals, which also include critical negotiations with the European Union, the UK, and in the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
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