US-India Trade Deal Nears Final Stage, Sergio Gor Signals Imminent Agreement Soon

The India–United States trade agreement is in its final stages and is expected to be concluded soon, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Tuesday, expressing strong optimism about the direction of bilateral economic negotiations. Speaking at the US-India Strategic Partnership Forum Leadership Summit, he said both sides were working through a narrow set of pending issues that remain before the deal can be formally sealed.

Gor described the negotiations as being in the “final steps”, adding that most components of the agreement have already been completed. According to him, only a small fraction of differences—described as “the last 1 per cent”—still need to be resolved. He indicated that discussions are now focused on fine-tuning these remaining issues, which have delayed the final announcement despite broad consensus on the overall framework.

The ambassador said the trade negotiations have been underway for nearly 18 months, reflecting sustained engagement between the two countries. He expressed confidence that the agreement would be mutually beneficial, reinforcing economic cooperation and strengthening the broader strategic partnership. Gor also emphasised his personal determination to see the process concluded, suggesting that both Washington and New Delhi are aligned in their intent to finalise the deal without further delay.

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Highlighting the broader diplomatic context, Gor pointed to the strong political relationship between US President Donald Trump and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi as an important factor supporting progress in negotiations. He suggested that the personal rapport between the two leaders has helped sustain momentum in discussions, even as technical and policy-level issues required extended deliberation.

Gor also compared the current timeline of negotiations with other major international trade agreements, noting that the India–US deal has progressed relatively quickly in comparison. He cited the example of the European trade agreement, which took approximately two decades to finalise, arguing that the current pace reflects strong political will and commitment on both sides to expedite outcomes. He added that, in relative terms, the India–US negotiations are moving at a significantly faster and more focused pace.

In addition to trade discussions, Gor referred to the broader diplomatic goodwill between the two nations, noting that President Trump continues to hold positive memories of his previous visit to India. He said the President frequently speaks about the visit and regards it as one of the most memorable international trips of his tenure. Gor also expressed anticipation about the possibility of a future presidential visit to India, framing it as a sign of deepening engagement and continuity in the bilateral relationship.

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