The top U.S. diplomat has met with India's new prime minister.
John Kerry met Narendra Modi for the first time Friday; the third day of Kerry's trip to India.
Their meeting in New Delhi comes a day after a World Trade Organization session in Geneva where India blocked reforms over demands to allow it to sell stockpiled food to the poor at subsidized prices.
WTO rules say stockpiled food can only be sold at market prices.
Officials said Kerry urged Modi to work with the U.S. to move the WTO process forward.
Delegates at the WTO meeting said they missed a deadline for passage of the reforms, and expressed concern that consequences could be significant.
WTO members agreed in principle last year to streamline and standardize global customs rules.
U.S. Trade Representative Michael Froman said the customs reforms would have cut trade costs and generated hundreds of billions of dollars in much needed economic activity.